MV On Track 2018

ON TRACK MAGAZINE 41 The 22-year-old is the regular rider of the Godolphin middle distance galloper Benbatl, who shapes as one of the leading European candidates who could be potential Cox Plate challengers for Winx. Murphy scored an easy win on the four- year-old in Germany in late July in the Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis-Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Munich, adding to the Group 1 success the duo achieved in the Dubai World Cup Turf race at Meydan in late March. In between times Benbatl - who landed a Group 3 contest at Royal Ascot in 2017 - had run disappointingly at the Royal venue in the Queen Anne Stakes when he was a well beaten favourite behind outsider Accidental Agent. Saeed bin Suroor, his trainer, put that poor performance down to the firm ground which prevailed at Ascot that day and although Murphy didn’t ride him at the Royal meeting, he is confident that would have been the reason for Benbatl’s relatively poor showing in that 1600 metre contest. “He moved brilliantly in Germany when he won and I think he’s a top class horse,” Murphy said, prepared to forgive his flop in mid-June. “It’s going to be a competitive race, Winx is a world class animal, but if he were to go down there I certainly think I could give her a race,” he added. The Godolphin owned Folkswood ran third to Winx last year, and it is form which gives Murphy cause for, if not confidence, then optimism on Benbatl’s behalf. “This horse would, no disrespect to Folkswood, be much more talented.” Murphy is, of course, no stranger to The Valley - nor the other Melbourne tracks. While he was in his apprentice days in England he came out to Australia for a spell during the European winter, riding for Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien. He impressed many good judges that time with his coolness and confidence, his ability to get horses to relax - particularly over a distance of ground - and his timing, which all pointed to the ability of a rider far in excess of his tender years. “Danny O’Brien gave me lots of opportunities. I won a listed race at Flemington for Nigel Blackiston, so if I could come back and get some rides I would really enjoy it. “I have a lot of good mates in Melbourne, the likes of Jake Noonan and Damian Lane are good pals of mine and Damian came and stayed with me last summer for a few weeks just for a bit of a holiday. It would be great to catch up with him. “I have only been back once for 24 hours since that time with Danny O’Brien and that was Melbourne Cup Day when Ryan Moore won on Protectionist. I had five rides on the card that day, unfortunately no winners but I would love to go back. “There’s a few horses I could be linked to. Count Octave has Melbourne Cup aspirations and of course the Cox Plate has been mentioned for Benbatl.” Count Octave ran sixth in last year’s St Leger at Doncaster, close behind subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling. At Royal Ascot this year he was placed in the 4300 metre Queen Alexandra Stakes. It is hardly surprising that in recent times Murphy has caught the eye of so many top European trainers and is now the number one rider for Qatar Racing, one of the most influential ownership groups in the racing game. Earlier this summer he won Group 1 contests in England aboard Roaring Lion (the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown) and on the veteran entire Lightning Spear (the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood) for Qatar. All up Murphy has tasted success at the highest level half a dozen times - the two above mentioned, the two wins on Benbatl and victories in Canada aboard Blond Me in the EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine last October and on Aclaim in the Prix de la Foret at Chantilly. Chalking one up at The Valley and downing Winx in the Cox Plate might just top them all though.