Oisin Murphy

With the ground riding heavy at Newbury, Saturday's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. had the potential to become a war of attrition and ultimately it was Juddmonte's Array (Ire) (No Nay Never--Joyeuse {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) who proved toughest. Off the mark in a Newmarket novice before finishing third in the G3 Sirenia S. over this six-furlong trip at Kempton earlier this month, the Andrew Balding-trained homebred was placed near the fore by Oisin Murphy from the outset. Committed passing two out, the 7-4 favourite was forced...

Mick and Janice Mariscotti's ultra-consistent 6-year-old gelding Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}--Promise Me {Ire}, by Montjeu {Ire}) settled for placings in this term's G1 Gold Cup and G1 Goodwood Cup and exacted revenge on Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) with a determined effort in Friday's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York. Coltrane, a 14-length runner-up in this marathon contest last year, had risen through the staying ranks to notch victories in last term's G2 Doncaster Cup and this term's G3 Sagaro S. and raced...

Ollie Sangster trainee Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}--Lady Pimpernel {GB}, by Sir Percy {GB}) recovered from a slow getaway to snag her June 27 debut at Newbury and stepped forward to register a first black-type success for the freshman conditioner in Friday's Listed European Bloodstock News Star S. at Sandown. The 9-4 second favourite was less than perfect at the break once more and occupied a midfield fifth for the most part here. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle in the straight to join the front rank passing the quarter-mile...

Fozzy Stack says that Aspen Grove (Ire) is something of a forgotten horse heading into the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and revealed that there were genuine excuses for her below-par effort in the Irish 1,000 Guineas when the Justify filly was found to be in season.  Aspen Grove carried Craig Bernick's distinctive silks to victory in a Group 3 contest at the Curragh last term and, with that valuable black-type success already secured, Stack felt connections could afford to be brave in travelling her over for Saturday's Grade I...

Oisin Murphy will take over from the suspended Frankie Dettori aboard 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Sunday's G1 Haras d'Etreham Prix Jean Prat at Deauville. Dettori will miss the ride after receiving a nine-day careless riding ban at Royal Ascot last month and that suspension will also rule him out of riding Emily Upjohn in the Coral-Eclipse on Saturday.  Murphy has never ridden Chaldean in public before but Barry Mahon, racing manager for Juddmonte, the owners of the top-notch colt, said once the Irishman was available to...

Frankie Dettori and Oisin Murphy will both miss Newmarket's July meeting after picking up whip bans at Royal Ascot. Dettori, who is yet to win the G1 July Cup, will miss the ride on the Ralph Beckett-trained Kinross (GB) was given an eight-day ban after being found by the British Horseracing Authority's Whip Review Committee to have used his whip seven times in the Queen Anne S. on Inspiral (GB). His dates of suspension are July 13-15 and 17-21. The jockey is set to contest a separate nine-day ban which...

I don't know about you, but I can't seem to remember a better big-race ride in recent times than what Oisin Murphy produced in winning the G1 Commonwealth Cup aboard Julie Camacho's Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). It would be hard enough to win a middle-of-the-road handicap after blowing the start like Shaquille did. A Group 1 at Ascot? You must be having a laugh.  The in-running punters agreed and quickly laid Shaquille at odds all the way up to 90 on the exchanges. Ouch. But even when Shaquille got...

To do everything wrong and still win the G1 Commonwealth Cup comfortably, Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}--Magic {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) must be among an elite brigade of sprinters to have come to Royal Ascot down the years. Although the pride of the Julie Camacho and Steve Brown stable had obvious credentials entering Friday's six-furlong feature, after blowing the start and losing several lengths all appeared lost. That was factoring against the abundance of talent Martin Hughes's homebred possesses and the calm of Oisin Murphy after he had asked for...

Jane Newett's Barnwell Boy (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}--Frilly {GB}, by Frankel {GB}) became the latest juvenile to stake a claim for Royal Ascot with a taking debut success in Friday's William Hill/British EBF Novice S. over six furlongs at Goodwood. The contest has become a useful yardstick having thrown high-class winners in the past, with Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) annexing the 2017 renewal and Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) winning last year's edition. Barnwell Boy, a Charlie Johnston trainee, broke sharply and seized an immediate lead. Holding sway throughout, the...

Epsom Downs saw G1 Betfred Derby and Oaks hopefuls going through their paces Monday with Frankie Dettori partnering Juddmonte's Arrest (Ire), a homebred son of Frankel (GB), over just short of a mile at The Derby Festival Gallops Morning. Now in his final year in the saddle, Dettori likes his chances in the 244th running of the premier Classic over a mile and a half to be run on Saturday, June 3. "I have been fortunate enough to win The Derby twice and it is still the most famous race...

International bloodstock agent Alastair Donald, who purchased Thursday's G2 Dante S. winner The Foxes  (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) on behalf of the King Power team, is backing the colt to get the Derby trip at Epsom.  The Foxes was cut into a general 8-1 chance for Derby glory after winning the key trial at York for trainer Andrew Balding and the in-form jockey Oisin Murphy.  He hails from a family the connections know well, given the half-brother Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) carried the blue and white silks of King Power with...

There was as much uncertainty as to what would start favourite for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. than what would emerge on top in York's time-honoured Derby trial, but in the end it was one of the benchmark horses The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}--Tanaghum {GB}, by Darshaan {GB}) who held the bragging rights. King Power Racing's G2 Royal Lodge S. winner had been undone by Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket last month but appreciated this step up to an extended 10...