RACING NEWS:JOHNNY MURTAGH endured a torrid August but is hoping to bounce back in classic style on Saturday with a double-Leger attempt that will mean he rides Ursa Major against Camelot at Doncaster before crossing the Irish Sea to team up with Royal Diamond in the Curragh Leger.
The audacious Classic assault could seal a remarkable first season in Irish racing for owner Andrew Tinkler. His friendship with the champion jockey has been marked by trainer Tommy Carmody producing a steady flow of winners from a yard on the Curragh owned by Murtagh.
Considering the first of them came at Dundalk only last February, the new operation has come a long way in a short time. But Murtagh, who is heavily involved in its operation, was yesterday characteristically upbeat about Ursa Major’s chances of upsetting the odds.
“We’re going there to win,” he insisted after partnering the Group Three-winning colt in a gallop. “Camelot is a very good horse but he will have to run a mile and 6½ furlongs so you don’t know what will happen. Our fella stays well and I think the extra distance will help him.”
The Doncaster Leger is due off at 3.40pm on Saturday which leaves enough time for Murtagh to get back to HQ in time to team up with the Ebor runner-up Royal Diamond, who will take his chance in the Irish Leger.
That’s the race that had a memorable dead-heat between Duncan and the Murtagh-ridden Jukebox Jury last year, a victory that completed the jockey’s set of Irish Classics.
Despite being out of action for three weeks due to a facial injury last month, during which time he was sacked by the Aga Khan as retained rider in Ireland, Murtagh insists he is enjoying the game as much as ever.
“I’m fit and well and enjoying things working with Tommy and Mr Tinkler. It’s unbelievable at this stage to have a horse going for the Leger, never mind having two horses for two Legers,” he said.
“Ursa Major went well this morning. He wouldn’t be an extravagant worker but he’s done his work and he really produces when he goes racing,” he added.
Ursa Major’s Group Three defeat of the Aga Khan’s Hartani at the Curragh last month was widely regarded as the catalyst for the break-up for Murtagh’s lengthy relationship with the Aga Khan which over the years was marked by a lengthy list of topflight victories, including Sinndar in both the Derby and the Arc.
One of the most successful jockey’s in Irish racing history did not wish to elaborate on that yesterday, although a pair of Leger victories would certainly represent a huge boost to a season in which he has already hit the classic mark with the ill-fated Valyria in the French Oaks.
Ursa Major is a general 20 to 1 shot to deny Camelot’s attempt at Triple-Crown glory, but a win would leave Murtagh needing only the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas to complete a clean-sweep of the classics in England.
It would also reverberate with a little history considering it is only a couple of years since Murtagh resigned from his position as number 0ne jockey at Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle yard.
Royal Diamond is a 14 to 1 shot for Irish Leger glory with Paddy Power but it is Murtagh’s old pal Fame And Glory, the 2009 Irish Derby winner, who heads the betting at 11 to 4.
Dermot Weld’s high-class mare Sapphire is a 6 to 1 shot but is not yet a certain runner in the final classic of 2012 in Ireland.
“I don’t know if she runs or not yet,” said Stan Cosgrove, spokesman for owners Moyglare Stud.
“Dermot will decide but he won’t make up his mind until later in the week. We’ll see what else runs and what the ground is like,” he added
Ground will also be a factor in deciding if Jessica Harrington’s dual-purpose star Steps To Freedom takes his chance in a Group One for the first time.
“It depends purely on the ground,” said Harrington. “It dried up but more rain is due.”
