Victory Is Sweet! Murphy returns on Highland Colori
Oisin Murphy maintained a whirlwind start to his riding career when steering Highland Colori to lift the valuable Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday before claiming three more winners on the card, Silver Rime, Levitate and Cockney Sparrow – a fourfold with accumulated odds of 9260-1.
The apprentice began his career less than a year ago when recruited by Andrew Balding’s stable at Kingsclere, but has a tally of 28 winners. The Killarney-born Murphy can ride at 7st 10lb, which is far lighter than his uncle Jim Culloty, the eminent jumps jockey-turned-trainer who rode the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National winners in 2002.
After his Ayr Gold Cup success, Murphy said: “I’m a bit shocked because I came here hoping John Quinn’s horse in the last [Cockney Sparrow] might run well. I thought this horse might be out of his depth in the big race.”
Asked about trying to become the champion apprentice next year, Murphy said: “You dream about things like that but I’d like to keep improving and the winners will come.” The 18-year-old added: “I couldn’t believe it, I’d say that before this my biggest handicap win has been a class three race at Ffos Las with 10 people there. It is brilliant.”
Proud Moment!
Highland Colori (20-1) turned a competitive 26-runner sprint into a rout, running out a convincing winner. Levitate (5-1) also won cosily and his trainer, John Quinn, said: “Oisin has ridden two out of two for us, his 5lb claim is robbery.”
Murphy recorded his hat-trick when making the most of a spare ride on Linda Perratt’s Silver Rime (20-1). Perratt said: “Oisin said he’d never been to Scotland before but I bet he will want to come back now.”
An astonishing afternoon for Murphy was completed when Cockney Sparrow (5-2), also saddled by Quinn, stayed on strongly in the final race. “I can’t believe it, the day’s got even better,” Murphy said.
www.theguardian.com
