champion jockey | Horse Racing Free Tips

Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy Reaches 1,000-Winner Mark

Qatar Racing colourbearer Perfect Sign (Ire) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) gave pilot Oisin Murphy his 1,000 winner. The reigning champion jockey and retained rider for Qatar Racing teamed up with the juvenile filly for trainer Michael Dods at Southwell. The 25-year-old Irishman, who was the champion apprentice in the UK in 2014, was appointed number one Jockey for Qatar Racing in 2016. On board Qatar Racing’s Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) he gained his first Classic success in the 2020 G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas.

Murphy told Sky Sports Racing: “I ride for great people, and it’s really nice to get my 1,000th in these colours. The filly is in the sale on Thursday, so it’s a good moment. When you start out as an apprentice you hope to just get one winner–hopefully I can ride 1,000 more in the future. I ride good horses all over the world–I’m very privileged and I have to remember that.”

The Kitten’s Joy colt, who is bound for a stallion career at Tweenhills Farm & Stud after a start in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 7, galloped at Kempton on Tuesday.

“We’ve been so lucky to find good horses over the years,” he added. “Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) was a champion, as is Kameko, but to replace them isn’t easy–so we keep trying. To win my first Classic on Kameko was great–growing up as a child you watch all the Classics, and that was very special.

“Kameko heads to the Breeders’ Cup, and we took him to Kempton this morning and we went round left-handed so he could get used to that.”

The post Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy Reaches 1,000-Winner Mark appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Surprised’ Irad Ortiz Tests Positive For COVID-19, Return To Racing Delayed

Serving a suspension from Sept. 18 through Oct. 3 for a pair of careless riding incidents earlier this year, champion jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. was scheduled to return to the saddle on Sunday. Instead, the Daily Racing Form's David Grening reported Wednesday that Ortiz tested positive for COVID-19 in a test taken Monday, and will be self-isolating for an additional 10 days.

Agent Steve Rushing said Ortiz is displaying no symptoms, and hopes to return by Oct. 8 at Belmont Park.

“He was as surprised as anyone when he found out,” Rushing told drf.com.

Murphy Rides Century After Suspension

Following a seven-day suspension, champion jockey Oisin Murphy booted home his 100th winner of the abbreviated COVID-19 season. The Kodi Kid (Ire) (Kodi Bear {GB}) won the first race on the card at Bath and was Murphy’s 539th ride of the year.

“It’s great to get another one on the board for Andrew–he’s my biggest supporter and the horses are flying, so I’m thrilled,” said Oisin Murphy of the Andrew Balding trainee. “It’s great to do it [ride 100th winner] for Andrew. This horse ran well last time and this was a good spot for him.

Added Murphy of his time away from the saddle, “I tried not to get too fat. I watched a lot of replays. Andrew had a Group 3 winner and a Group 2 winner–I’m obviously thrilled the stable has continued in super form.

“I went to Lake Como [in Italy], which was different. Obviously I don’t go on holidays, but it was super and it was great to see somewhere new.”

The post Murphy Rides Century After Suspension appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Jim Crowley Reaches 2000-Win Milestone

Champion jockey Jim Crowley rode his 2000th winner aboard Shadwell’s Modmin (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) in the Ladbrokes Supporting ‘Children With Cancer UK’ Novice S. at Goodwood on Sunday. Crowley, who rides is the retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan’s operation, was previously a jumps jockey based in the north.

“It has been a fantastic season so far and I hope it continues,” said Crowley. “It was nice to do it here as it’s my local track. I’ve got a lot of fond memories here and to ride it in these colours for Marcus [Tregoning] was nice.

“Battaash at York was a highlight the first year and Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) winning in the fashion he did in such a good race here (Sussex S.), those three really stick out for me and it is hard to pick one.”

“It is massive [becoming retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan]. I felt very fortunate to get the job. When I was champion jockey that probably got me noticed. It is a dream come true and touch wood it is going well.”

The Shadwell colours have been firmly in the limelight this season, with Crowley aboard such stars as MG1SW sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), G2 Duke Of Cambridge S. heroine Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), GSW Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), a MGSW who won the G2 Lonsdale Cup S. at York last out.

Crowley is not resting on his laurels, however, and said, “We’ve got some lovely horses coming through at the moment and I’m a big fan of Enbihaar and hopefully they just keep coming. It’s not easy as some big operations have lean years, but at the moment we are having a good run. It’s not impossible to get 3,000. It might seem a long way away now stood here, but so did 2,000 and so did 1,000. We will keep batting away and see where we end up.

“I’d love to win a Classic as I’ve been second in an Oaks and two St Legers, not that I’m counting. That is the one thing I would love to do, as I’ve rattled the crossbar in most of them.”

The post Jim Crowley Reaches 2000-Win Milestone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post