Profile & Factfile - Johnny Murtagh Profile & Factfile Johnny Murtagh - 2009 Flat Ambassador When Johnny Murtagh rode 12 Group 1 winners in 2000, he probably thought that he would never surpass that total in a season. He was wrong. Last year, his Group 1 tally reached a quite incredible 21. Murtagh has every attribute that you look for in a top class flat jockey: poise, balance, confidence, strength, judgement of pace. He is the complete package. The fact that he was selected as the number one jockey for Team Ballydoyle at the start of last season, almost certainly the top job in the world of thoroughbred racing, is testament to his supreme talent. Factfile Best moment in racing: Henrythenavigator's win in the 2008 Irish 2,000 Guineas Best moment outside of racing: A five-way dead-heat - the births of my five children Favourite food: Cabbage, bacon and spuds (don't get to have it that often!) Favourite restaurant: Chapter 16 at The Silken Thomas in Kildare Town Favourite horse you have ridden: Yeats Favourite horse you haven't ridden: Kauto Star (I'd love to ride him) Unsung hero: Eddie Byrne, my agent Person you most admire: Aidan O'Brien & John Oxx Role models: Mick Kinane as jockey in our profession Favourite book: The Power of One Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption Favourite musician: Christy Moore Person you would most like to meet: Tiger Woods Favourite non-sporting television programme: Prison Break Favourite activity outside of racing: Relaxing with Orla and the kids Football team: Manchester United Sporting hero: Michael Jordan Alternative career: Professional soccer player Greatest achievement: Being appointed as number one jockey at Ballydoyle Wheels: Mercedes CLS 320 Afraid of: Water Excited by: Good horses One thing you would change about your life: Nothing, my life is perfect (Maybe I would be a couple of pounds lighter!) One thing you would change about Irish racing: Reduce our dependence on government hand-outs, it is such a big industry, we should be self-funded Best piece of advice: The river doesn't need pushing Married to: Orla Children: Caroline (13), Charles (11), Lauren (8), Tom (4), Grace (4) Name: Johnny Murtagh Principal Trainers: Aidan O'Brien, Mick Halford, Ger Lyons Notable Wins: Prix Royal Oak (Yeats 2008), Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fame And Glory 2008), National Stakes (Mastercraftsman 2008, Sinndar 1999, Manntari 1993), Prix Morny (Bushranger 2008), Juddmonte International Stakes (Duke Of Marmalade 2008), Nassau Stakes (Halfway To Heaven 2008, Peeping Fawn 2007), Sussex Stakes (Henrythenavigator 2008, Soviet Song 2004), Phoenix Stakes (Mastercraftsman 2008), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Duke Of Marmalade 2008, Dylan Thomas 2007, Alamshar 2003), Irish Oaks (Moonstone 2008, Peeping Fawn 2007, Petrushka 2000, Winina 1998, Ebadiyla 1997), Eclipse Stakes (Mount Nelson 2008), Ascot Gold Cup (Yeats 2008, Royal Rebel 2002 + 2001, Enzeli 1999), Prince Of Wales Stakes (Duke Of Marmalade 2008), Queen Anne Stakes (Haradasun 2008, No Excuse Needed 2002), St James's Palace Stakes (Henrythenavigator 2008, Black Minnaloushe 2001), Coronation Cup (Soldier Of Fortune 2008), Tattersalls Gold Cup (Duke Of Marmalade 2008, Notnowcato 2007), Irish 2000 Guineas (Henrythenavigator 2008, Black Minnaloushe 2001), English 2000 Guineas (Henrythenavigator 2008, Rock of Gibraltar 2002), Prix Ganay (Duke Of Marmalade 2008), UAE Derby (Honour Devil 2008), Fillies Mile (Listen 2007), Yorkshire Oaks (Peeping Fawn 2007, Petrushka 2000, Key Change 1996), Falmouth Stakes (Simply Perfect 2007, Soviet Song 2005 + 2004), Golden Jubilee Stakes (Soldier's Tale 2007, Choisir 2004, Superior Premium 2000), Epsom Derby (Motivator 2005, High Chaparral 2002, Sinndar 2000), Matron Stakes (Soviet Song 2004, Timarida 1995), July Cup (Frizzante 2004), Irish Derby (Alamshar 2003, Sinndar 2000), Prix du Cadran (Give Notice 2002), Hong Kong Vase (Daliapour 2000), Breeders' Cup Turf (Kalanisi 2000), Racing Post Trophy (Dilshaan 2000), English Champion Stakes (Kalanisi 2000), Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (Namid 2000), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Sinndar 2000), Prix de l'Opera (Petrushka 2000, Timarida 1995), Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ebadiya 1998), Irish Champion Stakes (Timarida 1996), Beverly D. Stakes (Timarida 1996), Breeders' Cup Mile (Ridgewood Pearl 1995), Prix du Moulin (Ridgewood Pearl 1995), Coronation Stakes (Ridgewood Pearl 1995), Pretty Polly Stakes (Takarouna 1993) 38-year-old Johnny Murtagh is one of the best known names in international racing due to his high-profile exploits in the saddle. Such fame and success has not come easily to him and he has had to overcome his share of problems over the years to reach his enviable position at the top of the worldwide jockey ranks. A promising footballer and boxer in his youth, Murtagh joined RACE in Co. Kildare in his mid-teens and on completion of the course there joined John Oxx as an apprentice. He rode his first winner just over 20 years ago on the Oxx-trained Chicago Style at Limerick on May 6th 1987. He wasted little time in making a serious impact in the apprentice ranks, finishing second to Eddie Leonard in the 1988 Apprentice Championship. The following year he made no mistake and went one better to become the Champion Apprentice. In 1991, Murtagh was appointed as stable jockey to the powerful John Oxx yard after Ron Quinton opted to return to his native Australia. He wasted no time in taking advantage of such a prized position and in his first season with Oxx, he finished second to Mick Kinane in the Jockeys' Championship. 1995 was a memorable year for Johnny Murtagh as he was crowned Irish Champion Jockey for the first time. It was during that season that he formed a hugely-successful partnership with the John Oxx-trained filly, Ridgewood Pearl. Together the pair won on four of the five occasions they teamed up, with their victories coming in the Athasi Stakes, the Coronation Stakes, the Prix Du Moulin and the Breeders Cup Mile. He retained his Champion Jockey crown in 1996 and the following season he gained his first classic victory when riding the John Oxx-trained Ebadiyla to victory in the Irish Oaks. He doubled his Classic tally when riding Winona to win the same race in 1998. That season was also notable for Murtagh as he regained his Champion Jockey title, having lost out in 1997. The year 2000 was a very special one in the career of Johnny Murtagh. He rode no less than 12 winners at Group 1 level with the highlights undoubtedly coming on the immensely talented Sinndar. The John Oxx-trained colt won the National Stakes as a juvenile before going on to the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby, the Prix Niel and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp as a three-year-old. That last-named day will long live in his memory as his Arc win was just one of three Group 1 winners on the day for him as he also partnered the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Petrushka to take the Prix de l'Opera and the John Oxx-trained Namid to win the Prix de l'Abbaye. 2001 saw Murtagh team up with Aidan O'Brien to gain a big race success on Black Minnaloushe, who unexpectedly won the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, and the pair teamed up again to win the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June with the same horse. The following year Murtagh again teamed up with O'Brien to land two major prizes as he guided Rock Of Gibraltar to victory in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and High Chaparral to win the Epsom Derby. 2003 saw Murtagh win his second Irish Derby at the Curragh when riding Alamshar to victory for trainer John Oxx and he went on to ride the same horse to victory in the King George VI Stakes at Ascot in late-July. However, Murtagh was dogged by weight problems throughout the 2003 season due to a back injury he sustained in a freak accident at Royal Ascot in June. These problems resulted in him losing the position of stable jockey to John Oxx and more than a few people thought this would be the beginning of the end of Murtagh's career. The 2004 season saw Murtagh ply his trade as a freelance and while he remained a very much in-demand rider in Ireland, he made more and more flying visits to England. These visits resulted in him forming a particularly profitable partnership with the James Fanshawe-trained Soviet Song with the pair combining to win the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes, the Falmouth Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the Matron Stakes. Murtagh and Fanshawe also combined to win the July Cup with Frizzante that season. In 2005 Murtagh divided his time between riding for the Mick Halford yard in Ireland and making regular trips to England. Indeed, he picked up the plum ride on the ante-post favourite for the Epsom Derby, the Michael Bell-trained Motivator, and having ridden him to victory in the Dante Stakes he went on to win the Epsom Derby by five lengths on the son of Montjeu. The other highlight of his season came when gaining his second consecutive win in the Falmouth Stakes on Soviet Song. Towards the end of 2005, Johnny decided to try his luck over hurdles to help keep himself fit during the winter months and he notched up four victories from just a handful of rides, with his win on Golden Cross in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan undoubtedly being the highlight. He almost pulled off a famous victory on the same horse in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but the combination went down by a head in a thrilling finish with My Way De Solzen. 2006 was a busy season for Murtagh and while he failed to ride a Group 1 winner, despite finishing second in both the Irish and English Derby's, he was a prolific performer in the biggest handicaps of the season. If that season was something of a disappointing year for Murtagh, 2007 saw him return to the very top of his game. With the unusual circumstances surrounding Ballydoyle's stable jockey situation, Murtagh picked up an abundance of big-race rides for the powerful Tipperary outfit, resulting in him having a hugely successful year. However, his first Group 1 success came at the expense of Ballydoyle as he rode the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Notnowcato to narrowly beat Dylan Thomas in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. From there, he rode the Jeremy Noseda-trained Soldier's Tale to win the Golden Jubilee Stakes before gaining his third win in the Falmouth Stakes when riding the Noseda-trained Simply Perfect to success. Murtagh then picked up the plum ride on Dylan Thomas in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and he made no mistake, riding the four-year-old to a hugely impressive four lengths success. However, the highlight of Murtagh's season was arguably his partnership with the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly, Peeping Fawn. He teamed up with the hugely-progressive filly on her final three starts of the season, winning the Irish Oaks, the Nassau Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks. O'Brien also provided Murtagh with a Group 1 to wrap up a highly-successful season when Listen won the Fillies Mile at Ascot. In recent winters, Murtagh has often spent the early part of the year riding in Dubai and this season his hard work was finally rewarded with a victory on World Cup night in 2008 when he rode the Mike De Kock-trained Honour Devil to success in the UAE Derby. However, it was at that time that an even more significant development took place, with Murtagh being confirmed as the retained rider for the Coolmore partnership of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, making him the stable jockey to Aidan O'Brien in everything but name. The 2008 season saw Murtagh show that he is better than ever, having by far the most prolific season of his career and stamping himself as arguably the best jockey in the world. He began the season in great style, winning the Prix Ganay on Duke Of Marmalade. That four-year-old colt proved to be a lucrative partner for Murtagh, with the pair going on to win four additional Group 1's. Henrythenavigator was another memorable partner for Murtagh, winning four consecutive Group 1's including the English and Irish 2000 Guineas. He also tasted Group 1 glory on the likes of Mount Nelson, Moonstone, Halfway To Heaven, Yeats, Haradasun and Soldier Of Fortune. In terms of juveniles, Murtagh won the Phoenix Stakes and the National Stakes on Mastercraftsman, the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes on the David Wachman-trained Bushranger and the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on the O'Brien-trained Fame And Glory. He finished the season with a remarkable total of 21 Group 1 wins, a feat that is unlikely to be surpassed by any jockey in the foreseeable future. 2009 promises to be another highly-successful season for Murtagh, with any number of exciting three-years-olds trained in Ballydoyle to look forward to, most notably Mastercraftsman, Rip Van Winkle and Fame And Glory. Regardless of how he fares this season, Murtagh's place in the racing hall of fame is already sealed and he can look back with great pride on what has been a tremendous career to date.
