Johnny Murtagh fulfils a long term ambition by making his maiden appearance in the Tooheys New Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, where he will ride German raider Caitano. And the Irishman has admitted he is greatly looking forward to the challenge of replacing French star Olivier Peslier, who has been forced to abort his plans to go to Australia because of a passport hitch.
Murtagh revealed today: "I am looking forward to it. I have always wanted to ride in the Melbourne Cup. The trainer is very happy and the horse is doing well. Everybody is pretty happy with the horse. I don't think the Australian stayers are any stars so we have got to have a chance. I am riding at Saint-Cloud tomorrow for Aidan O'Brien and then heading out straight away."
Murtagh, 31, enjoyed an amazing season last year, riding Sinndar to victory in the English and Irish Derbys, as well as the Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe. In total, he bagged 12 Group One triumphs, including wins on Petrushka and Kalanisi for Sir Michael Stoute. And Murtagh is widely expected to be the main beneficiary of Stoute's surprise decision not to retain stable jockey Kieran Fallon next season.
Greg Nichols, Racing Victoria's general manager, said the disappointment of losing Peslier had been balanced out with the news that Murtagh would be his replacement. Nichols admitted: "Johnny Murtagh's record in recent years has been as good as any international rider and I'm ecstatic that he has agreed to ride in the Tooheys New Melbourne Cup."
The much-travelled Caitano has already had an outing in Australia having finished seventh of eight to Northerly in last weekend's controversial Carlton Draught Cox Plate over ten furlongs at the tight Moonee Valley circuit. Caitano - whose trainer Andreas Schutz left the cold of Melbourne for a weekend break in tropical Cairns yesterday - is among the rank outsiders at 50-1. But Schutz is convinced his charge will be better adapted to the two miles of Flemington's galloping track. Murtagh is expected to arrive in Melbourne on Monday morning.
Filed by Shane Murray
