Murphy - Luckily they came out and did their job

Upton, County Cork trainer John Murphy has ended the autumn season with remarkable force, producing three four-year-old winners from three runners in the space of just 15 days.

Known for developing high-class talent across both codes, the Murphy yard is enjoying a spell that underlines its growing presence once again in the four-year-old maiden arena.

 

Murphy’s run began at Boulta in November, where the Crystal Ocean-sired Old Coast Road made a striking debut. Held up towards the rear, he travelled powerfully through the field before quickening decisively on the flat to win comfortably, a performance that caught the eye for both his professionalism and his finishing gears.

 

Murphy’s son and assistant trainer George had long suspected the yard had a strong team to unleash.

 

“We thought in the spring we had some nice horses,” he said. “The ground went against us, so we were looking forward to them all summer. Luckily, they came out and did their job.”

 

Eight days later at Ballindenisk, New Rules delivered another authoritative success. The Walk In The Park gelding travelled like a seasoned horse throughout, picking up the running two out and stretching away to score readily.

 

“He was an expensive store and always looked a very nice horse, a super bumper type. Strong, a stayer with plenty of pace. He should be a very nice horse in the future.”

 

The hat-trick was completed at Dromahane, where The Old Head produced the most visually impressive display of the trio. In a strongly-run race, he moved smoothly into contention after the fourth-last before bounding clear two out and easing away to win by six lengths.

 

“He’s a lovely horse,” Murphy explained. “A big, tall, good-looking type with plenty of pace who stays very well. A super jumper. I’ve no doubt he’ll do plenty on the track in the future also.”

 

All three winners were partnered by Johnny Barry, whom Murphy was full of praise for.

 

“Johnny’s great. He’s very easy to work with and a super rider. He does plenty of schooling for us. We’re very lucky to have him when we want him.”

 

Murphy’s presence in the four-year-old division this season has been deliberate. Highfort had not campaigned a large pointing team in recent years, but owner Oisín Mahon expressed a renewed interest in the sphere, and together with agent Fergal Hogan, assembled a notably strong collection of stores.

 

“Oisín loves the point-to-pointing. He wanted a few more, and he and Fergal picked out a very nice bunch. It’s been great to work with them, and thankfully it’s going well.”

 

Behind the pointing success sits a yard operating at an elite level, having previously produced Newmill, the dual Grade 1-winning Champion Chaser who captured both the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and the Champion Chase at Punchestown, and more recently delivering top-class results on the Flat.

Stable star White Birch has elevated Highfort’s international profile over the past two seasons, winning the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, the Group 2 Mooresbridge, and finishing an excellent third in the Epsom Derby. He sold at the recent Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale for 300,000 guineas to Hurworth Bloodstock and Jamie Osborne.

 

“It’s always disappointing to see one like him go,” Murphy admitted. “But it had come to the end of the road for us. We’re looking forward to seeing him race on and hope he’s very successful.”

 

The Murphys have a strong grounding in show jumping which has long influenced the schooling of their young horses.

 

“They do plenty of jumping at home. Good lads like Johnny Barry and Daragh Allen do plenty of schooling, and they all loose jump. It helps, definitely.”

 

Despite operating a mixed-purpose yard with Flat, National Hunt and point-to-point horses, Murphy downplays any major distinctions in training methodology.

 

“There’s not a whole lot of difference really. We’re lucky with good facilities and good gallops. The jumpers will do a bit more, but at the end of the day, once they’re happy and healthy, they’ll run well.”

 

With a strike-rate of 60 percent from their first five runners this season and 12 hunter certificates already lodged, the Murphy team looks set for a busy campaign. More youngsters are waiting in the wings, including several three-year-olds earmarked for the spring.

“There are some nice horses there. We’re looking forward to getting those out. Hopefully there are a few more good ones in it.”