A brilliant year for Oisin Murphy, in which he reclaimed his title as Champion Jockey, ended in glorious fashion in the Far East on Sunday.
Murphy told Racing Confidential in October he was disappointed with the number of Group One wins he had achieved as well as being frustrated that he wasn’t getting a lot of rides at the biggest overseas meetings, so events in Hong Kong helped scratch a few itches.
He was brilliant on the Marco Botti-trained Giavellotto, steering the five-year-old to a thrilling success in the Hong Kong Vase – worth £1.3million to the winner – then, in the Hong Kong Cup, he guided The Foxes, trained by Andrew Balding, to an excellent fourth place and a cheque for £241,448.69.
A superb day’s work then and a reminder, if it was needed, that Murphy belongs among the elite on the flat. What about the prospect of him being elite over jumps? The idea isn’t as far-fetched as you might think, as his desire to ride winners over hurdles is enormous.
Around this time last year, Murphy was booked to ride Let’s Do This for Irish-trainer Cian Collins in a three-mile handicap at Wincanton. The meeting was abandoned after an overnight deluge and other commitments meant his plan was shelved.
But Racing Confidential understands that Murphy has applied for a jump jockeys licence and is waiting to hear back if it is granted. His sister, Blaithin, is general manager at Wincanton and he would get as much of a kick winning in Somerset as he did in Hong Kong.
Wincanton stages a meeting next week, then one on Boxing Day and there are several in the new year. Do not be surprised if you see the Champion Flat Jockey’s name alongside the declared runners at some point in the not distant future.
Oisin Murphy is elite over flats, but now he plans to conquer the jumps with plenty of desire
The Irishman was named British Champion Jockey for a fourth time, and his first since 2021
Cool Hoof Luke winning admirers
It seems incongruous to be thinking about big summer targets in the middle of winter but one outstanding flat horse will carry a good deal of interest next year.
Cool Hoof Luke, trained by Andrew Balding, was a brilliant and determined winner of the Al-Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes at York in August and, back at the course on Tuesday evening, he was honoured in the 253rd Gimcrack Club Dinner.
Time will tell whether he becomes a horse for the 2000 Guineas but if there is one colt guaranteed to have a following then it is this one, who was part named in honour of World Darts Champion Luke Humphries, who hails not far from Balding’s yard in Kingsclere.
It cannot be overstated how important it is for racing to have famous faces from other sports associated or owning big runners to open corridors to a new audience. Sir Alex Ferguson has had plenty of coverage recently and rightly so, with his horses, flat and jumps, enjoying great success.
Golfers Graeme McDowell and Brooks Koepka will have plenty of excitement in the coming months with their progressive hurdler Gimme Five and while Humphries doesn’t own Cool Hoof Luke, surely there is an opportunity for some to tap into this association? It needs to be considered.
Cool Hoof Luke will carry much interest next summer after his outstanding year
He is partly named after darts world champions Luke Humphries, who beat Luke Littler
Racing stars visit Alder Hey
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool is known around the world and at this time of year it is always visited by the city’s football teams, who try to spend as much time as they can with those children whose Christmas won’t be what they anticipated.
There were different visitors on Monday this week, though, when Randox Grand National winners Rachael Blackmore, Sir Anthony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald were joined by jump jockey Danny Mullins and flat riders Harry Davies and Ross Coakley along with the recently retired Franny Norton to go around the wards.
Blackmore got a 7.30am flight from Dublin just to spend a couple of hours with the kids; McCoy and Fitzgerald, long-standing supporters of Alder Hey, left their homes at 7am and 5.30am respectively while Davies – a young man with lots of talent – came up to Liverpool even though he was flying out to Australia the following day. It was a measure of their respect and commitment and it was to their credit.
Rachael Blackmore was among the racing stars who visited children at Alder Hey Hospital
Tearaway horse comes back safe and sound
Social media was ablaze on Monday afternoon when someone with a mobile phone in Musselburgh captured the remarkable moment a racehorse galloped free in the town’s streets.
Rufio, an 11-year-old trained by Gary Rutherford in the Borders, had gone to the picturesque track outside Edinburgh but got rid of his rider Lucy Brown, cleared a couple of perimeter fences and then made his merry way through uncharted territory.
The footage is remarkable and dramatic but no harm was done and Rufio was returned to the course, which is managed by the respected Bill Farnworth, without so much as a scratch.
Horses get loose all the time at home and on courses and the level of interest left those close to the incident bemused.
Runaway horse Rufio caused a big stir online but was returned home safely in the Borders
Donald McCain loses rising star in Beneficially Yours
There are many incredible strands to racing, action and stories that warm your heart and lift your spirits, but nothing ever dilutes the pain of seeing horse injured in action.
At Haydock last Wednesday, there was a competitive card, the kind of which that draws jump racing enthusiasts out on a miserable afternoon. The action was enjoyable, there were some excellent prospects on the card and a good number had come through the turnstiles.
But it was impossible to escape the cloud that was cast when Beneficially Yours took a crashing fall in a novices chase, suffering injuries from which he could not recover. His owners, Mr and Mrs G Calder, had only just returned to having horses after a prolonged break and hopes were high for the gelding.
Trainer Donald McCain thought the world of Beneficially Yours and thought he could become the best in his thriving yard, the kind he could take to all the big spring festivals. The pain of losing him, then, could not be understated. Both the Calders and McCain were left in tears.
His jockey, Brian Hughes, was similarly cut up and it is important in these such moments to let those involved know that support for them is not in short measure.
Donald McCain thought the world of Beneficially Yours, who suffered a fatal fall at Haydock
Racing urged to engage with younger audience
The Gimcrack Dinner is one of the most important nights of the year in racing and the great and good were in York’s Knavesmire Lounge to listen to Conor Grant, chair of Racecourse Media Group, deliver the speech.
Grant, whose knowledge of the industry is deep, urged the factions within the sport to come together for a prosperous future and said: ‘This will be alien to many in the room but for a new younger audience, jockeys dancing in the weighing room, or fashion at the races will engage far more than horses fighting out the finish of a race.
‘There is so much to learn from other sports about consumer engagement. We need to lift our heads above the racing parapet.’
It is hoped his words will register.
