As Royal Ascot continues, our questions are answered by the four-time British champion jockey – who already has three winners at the showpiece meeting this week
Four-time British champion Oisin Murphy reclaimed his jockeys’ title in Britain in 2024, adding last year’s laurels to his three previous successes in 2019, 2020 and 2021. He was also champion apprentice in 2014.
The Irishman was on a dominant-winning run until his seemingly unstoppable rise to the top was checked at the end of 2021 when it emerged he had broken Covid-19 travel protocols and failed two breath tests, for which he was subsequently suspended until February 2023.
However, since his return the 29-year-old has firmly re-established himself among the world’s elite riders, evidenced by a big-race haul that includes the 2,000 Guineas, Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Japan Cup, Dubai Turf, Hong Kong Vase and EP Taylor Stakes.
Murphy spent part of his teenage years learning under his uncle Jim Culloty, a three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning jockey, who went on to also win the Gold Cup as a trainer.
He served his apprenticeship with leading trainer Andrew Balding in Britain, a connection that continues along with commitments as first jockey to Qatar Racing for whom Murphy partnered subsequent Horse of the Year Roaring Lion to four G1 triumphs in 2018, including the Eclipse, Juddmonte International, Irish Champion Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Murphy won nine G1s altogether in five different countries that year.
Which racing figure past or present do you most admire?
Frankie Dettori (right). I was fortunate enough to spend ten years riding with him in Britain. He has won every big race that any jockey would dream of winning and he’s been able to bounce back from lots of setbacks, so I really admire his tenacity, along with his ability to ride.
Which is your favourite venue and race anywhere in the world?
My favourite venue is Meydan on a Dubai World Cup night. The atmosphere is very special and races like the Dubai Turf and Sheema Classic are always really, really strong races. The weighing room there is the best in the world.
My favourite race, although I’ve never won it, is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. I feel it’s the most important race there is through the fact it is open to both sexes and all ages. It’s the pinnacle.
Who is your favourite racehorse and why?
I’ve never met him, never seen him, but it is Frankel. He did wonders for the sport. People who do not even have a passing interest in racing have heard of Frankel. He was a class apart. In my time – I was born in 1995 – I don’t think any horse has come close to what he was capable of on turf. From those I have ridden it would be Roaring Lion. He was a machine and he did wonders for my career.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
Watching my uncle Jim Culloty train a Gold Cup winner, Lord Windermere, in 2014. I was 19. I had ridden him a lot in the years previously at home and I watched the horse come through health issues. It was truly a marvellous effort to get him to Cheltenham and to win.
The other would be winning the Japan Cup on Suave Richard. There were 80,000 people at Tokyo Racecourse. I remember driving back from the track and going past Shinjuku Tower and my face was animated on the building. It was surreal.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
I’d like racing to get as much attention as it did when Steve Cauthen, Cash Asmussen and Lester Piggott were dominating the sport. I wasn’t born but, courtesy of the X page of History of Horse Racing, I’ve been able to follow years and years of their success from around 1980.
The normal person felt an attachment to racing then that now doesn’t exist anymore. I feel other sports like darts, boxing and golf have taken that space in the media because the engine behind them has made them relatable to people.
Oisin Murphy was speaking to Jon Lees
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