Murtagh lands ride in Melbourne Cup Champion Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh is the new rider for German contender Caitano in next Tuesday`s Melbourne Cup.He replaces French star Olivier Peslier who has been forced to abort his plans to come to Melbourne due to a passport hitch.Murtagh, 31, enjoyed an amazing season last year, riding Sinndar to victory in both the Irish and English Derbys, as well as the Prix de l`Arc De Triomphe.In total he bagged 12 Group One triumphs, including wins on Petrushka and Kalanisi for Sir Michael Stoute. And Murtagh is widely expected to be the main beneficiary of Stoute`s surprise decision not to retain a stable jockey next season.Greg Nichols, Racing Victoria`s General Manager, said the disappointment of losing Peslier had been balanced out with the news that Murtagh would be his replacement.'Johnny Murtagh`s record in recent years has been as good as any international rider and I`m ecstatic that he has agreed to ride in the Tooheys New Melbourne Cup,' said Nichols today.The much-travelled Caitano has already had an outing in Australia having finished seventh of eight to Northerly in last weekend`s controversial Cox Plate over 10 furlongs at the tight Moonee Valley circuit.Caitano - whose trainer Andreas Schutz left the cold of Melbourne for a weekend break in tropical Cairns yesterday - is among the rank outsiders at 50-1.But Schutz is convinced his charge will be better adapted to the two miles of Flemington`s galloping track.Murtagh is expected to arrive in Melbourne on Monday morning.
