Johnny Murtagh will return to the Michael Stoute stable as a replacement for Kieren Fallon in Sunday week's Japan Cup when he links with 2000 Guineas winner Golan. Murtagh, who narrowly missed out on this year's Irish Jockeys' crown to Pat Smullen, will take the place of Fallon, who is wintering in Japan but whose retainer with Stoute, the horse's trainer, has not been renewed.
Murtagh, widely tipped to replace his fellow Irishman at Freemason Lodge before it was announced there would be no retained jockey, enjoyed big-race success on the Stoute-trained Kalanisi, Daliapour and Petrushka last season. Golan won the 2000 Guineas under Fallon at Newmarket in May and has since made the frame in the Vodafone Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, as well as winning the Prix Niel at Longchamp.
The three-year-old horse arrived safely in Japan on Monday and is currently based at the Shiroi quarantine centre.
Filed by Shane Murray
