Oisin Murphy | Horse Racing Free Tips

Moment of 2020: Kameko

In Moment of 2020, the staff of TDN Europe reflect on their favourite moments in racing for the year.

Future Classic winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) first came on my radar with his nose second in the G3 Solario S. in August of 2019 after winning on debut at Sandown in July. I especially noticed the flashy dark bay because he bore the same Qatar Racing silks as another favourite of mine, the late Cartier Horse of the Year Roaring Lion, also a Kentucky-bred incidentally by Kitten’s Joy.

A $90,000 Keeneland September yearling, the Calumet Farm-bred Kameko gave every indication he was moving in the right direction in his next start, this time second by a neck in the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket in September of 2019 for trainer Andrew Balding. His progression continued with a smart win-by 3 1/4 lengths–in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy in November last term, but the race was also notable as the first British Group 1 race ever contested on a synthetic surface. As such, perhaps its overall form carried less clout ahead of the 2020 Classics than if it had been contested on a traditional turf course. Regardless, for me I had settled on my Classic horse for the 2020 season.

The winter of 2019/2020 seemed to be stretching endlessly, despite the weather gradually improving. And then COVID-19 hit, turned the world on its head and racing ceased in the UK on Mar. 17. By the time French racing resumed with a quartet of group races on May 11, I was just grateful for racing anywhere in Europe, let alone worrying about the impending Classics.

British racing began again on June 1 and just five days later Kameko, under regular rider and champion jockey Oisin Murphy, stamped his quality on the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in race record time, despite not having the clearest of runs late on. After failing to stay with a fourth in the G1 Investec Derby at Epsom on July 4, Kameko faced his elders for the first time in the G1 Qatar Sussex S., but he was once again fourth after a troubled trip. He fared the same in the Aug. 19 10 1/2-furlong G1 Juddmonte International S. trying older heavy weights Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and connections determined he was strictly a miler.

Newmarket’s G2 Joel S. appeared to be a top-flight race in all but name, and much was riding on the outcome of the one-mile test. Back at HQ for the first time since his Classic victory, Kameko was facing an accomplished older horse in Godolphin’s MG1SW Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) while also carrying top weight in the six-horse field. It was a definite acid test for the Qatar Racing runner, who needed to prove that his Classic win, although accomplished in a wonderfully fast clocking, had not been a fluke.

Needless to say, I was glued to my computer screen that September morning. Would Kameko bounce back to his best at his preferred distance? He’d ducked no one throughout his campaign and this was his first try outside of Group 1 company since his G2 Royal Lodge second just under a year prior.

Second choice on the board behind Benbatl, the son of GIII Senorita S. heroine Sweeter Still (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) was away in good order, but was already being scrubbed on by Murphy at the half-way point. Kameko readily responded to his pilot’s cajoling and he split horses decisively to emerge with a slight advantage in the climb to the line. He wore down the pacesetting Benbatl and fended off the rallying Regal Reality (GB) (Intello {Ger}) to post a clear score. The latter edged Benbatl for second and it was on to the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile in November for the son of Kitten’s Joy.

Although unplaced at Keeneland, the 2021 Tweenhills Stud recruit deftly advertised his ample talent and class during his two campaigns and I look forward to his foals lighting up the course in years to come.

The post Moment of 2020: Kameko appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘I Got Away With It For Far Too Long’: Previously Suspended Jockey Calls For Stricter Cocaine Testing

Recent British jockey suspensions due to cocaine positives have encouraged Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) chief executive Paul Struthers to call for increased testing and penalties, reports the Racing Post.

Jockey Nathan Evans was banned six months last week after testing positive for cocaine, and champion British jockey Oisin Murphy received a three-month ban from France Galop after a positive he claimed was due to contamination from a sexual partner.

Kieren Shoemark, 24, made his way back from a cocaine positive and six-month suspension issued in 2018, and is now adding to the voices calling for additional testing. The young rider explained that cocaine has become an increasingly serious problem among jockeys, and that current protocols don't do enough to ensure detection of the drug.

“People being caught taking drugs is not a good thing for the sport; it's giving it a bad name,” Shoemark told the Racing Post. “If people know there's zero tolerance, they're going to take notice as they know they're going to get caught. I don't use 'cheat the system' lightly, but a lot of people are getting away with it — I got away with it for far too long. Hair sampling has to be the way forward.”

Jockey Oisin Murphy Gets Three-Month Ban In France: Sex Partner Said To Have Caused Cocaine Positive

Two-time reigning British champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been banned three months by France Galop after testing positive for cocaine while riding at Chantilly in July. In issuing the suspension, the French racing authority has accepted an explanation from the 25-year-old rider that the positive test was the result of “environmental contamination” that came from sexual contact on the eve of the French race with a woman who had used cocaine.

The ban, which runs from Dec. 11 through March 11, is three months shorter than other jockeys have received for similar offenses without the environmental contamination defense.

The full France Galop decision and reasoning (in French) can be found here. Murphy provided an independent hair sample drug test that did not detect cocaine. It can be found here.

A portion of the France Galop decision translated by Google into English states that “… the most likely scenario would be to have had a partner using a substance prohibited which may lead, during intimate moments, to exchanges of bodily fluids or surface contamination and that the consequence of these situations is a molecular transfer, likely to cause an abnormal analytical result in the competitor … adding that the day before the race, Oisin Murphy had sex with a young girl and has since learned that she uses cocaine occasionally.”

Murphy released a lengthy statement and response through the Professional Jockeys Association, the entirety of which can be read below:

“Oisin Murphy, the 2019 and 2020 Champion Flat Jockey, was today informed that the Commissioners of France Galop have found him in breach of their rules as a result of a positive sample provided by him at Chantilly on the 19^th July 2020 and have suspended him from riding for three months.

“In the decision, the Commissioners have accepted Oisin's explanation that he did not take cocaine and that the positive sample arose as a result of unintentional, environmental contamination. However, he must serve a three-month suspension as the Rules relating to prohibited substances operate on a strict liability basis and he failed to avoid putting himself into a situation where environmental contamination could occur.

“Commenting on the decision, Oisin Murphy said:

“'I would like to thank France Galop and the panel of Commissioners for a fair hearing and for accepting the evidence I presented that I had not taken cocaine. This evidence included my hair sample results – the results of which I am making public today – and an expert witness statement from an eminent toxicology and anti-doping expert.

“'Whilst I am obviously disappointed that I will still have to serve a three-month suspension, I am pleased the Commissioners accepted the evidence presented and am hugely relieved to have been cleared of taking cocaine.

“'I respect the rules of France Galop, respect their decision and will not be appealing. Despite my relief, I regretfully put myself in a situation whereby cocaine has been able to filter into my system through environmental contamination and must live with the consequences. As a professional sportsman I cannot put myself in a similar situation again.

“'Even though I have been exonerated from taking cocaine, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Sheikh Fahad al Thani, David Redvers and Andrew Balding and thank them for their support. I also want to thank my legal team, particularly Florence Gaudilliere, who represented me in France but also Rory Mac Neice, the Professional Jockeys Association, Johnno Spence and others who have advised and supported me throughout.

“'Finally, I would also like to apologise to the whole Qatar Racing team, to the owners and trainers I ride for, my supporters, my weighing room colleagues and to my commercial partners as well as Racing to School.

“The next three months will give me much time to reflect on my actions but I will learn from this experience and come back better and even more determined than before.'”

“Andrew Balding commented:

“'Oisin Murphy arrived at Kingsclere in 2012 and is very much part of the Park House family. I have been very proud to watch him thrive in the saddle but also as an ambassador for the sport. Oisin is a kind, trustworthy and dedicated part of the team. I never doubted he was innocent but I know this will really hurt him and I will make sure we do everything to help him return as a stronger and better person.'”

The post Jockey Oisin Murphy Gets Three-Month Ban In France: Sex Partner Said To Have Caused Cocaine Positive appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Oisin Murphy Banned Three Months

Jockey Oisin Murphy has been banned from race riding for three months by France Galop stewards as a result of a positive test this summer for cocaine metabolites. The ban will run from Dec. 11, 2020 to Mar. 11, 2021 and has been reciprocated by the British Horseracing Authority. The typical ban in such cases has been six months, but the stewards were persuaded to lessen that after receiving hair sample results and a testimony from Murphy that the positive test arose from an unintentional, environmental contamination. The positive sample had been taken on July 19, the day Murphy rode The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) to finish second in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly. Murphy, who has denied ever taking cocaine, has said he will not appeal the decision.

“I would like to thank France Galop and the panel of Commissioners for a fair hearing and for accepting the evidence I presented that I had not taken cocaine,” the rider said in a statement. “This evidence included my hair sample results–the results of which I am making public today–and an expert witness statement from an eminent toxicology and anti-doping expert. Whilst I am obviously disappointed that I will still have to serve a three-month suspension, I am pleased the Commissioners accepted the evidence presented and am hugely relieved to have been cleared of taking cocaine.

“I respect the rules of France Galop, respect their decision and will not be appealing. Despite my relief, I regretfully put myself in a situation whereby cocaine has been able to filter into my system through environmental contamination and must live with the consequences. As a professional sportsman I cannot put myself in a similar situation again.

“Even though I have been exonerated from taking cocaine, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to Sheikh Fahad al Thani, David Redvers and Andrew Balding and thank them for their support. I also want to thank my legal team, particularly Florence Gaudilliere, who represented me in France but also Rory Mac Neice, the Professional Jockeys Association, Johnno Spence and others who have advised and supported me throughout.

“Finally, I would also like to apologise to the whole Qatar Racing team, to the owners and trainers I ride for, my supporters, my weighing room colleagues and to my commercial partners as well as Racing to School. The next three months will give me much time to reflect on my actions, but I will learn from this experience and come back better and even more determined than before.”

Also on Friday, jockey Nathan Evans was banned six months after testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine from a sample given on Aug. 20 at York. Evans has had his licence withdrawn until Feb. 26 next year following a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel hearing on Friday, with the suspension backdated to Aug. 27.

The post Oisin Murphy Banned Three Months appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post