Murtagh ponders what it takes to win an Irish Guineas Former Champion Jockey Johnny Murtagh had some great success at the Curragh at the Guineas Festival — winning the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas on three occasions, and he also won an Irish 1000 Guineas. Both of these classics are run over a mile and Murtagh says the track provides a very stiff test for a horse. “The Guineas takes a bit of getting at the Curragh — it’s a straight mile and it’s climbing all the way,” said Murtagh. “I’m surprised when people say in the Newmarket Guineas that you have to stay. I think you’d get away there having a seven furlong horse, but you wouldn’t get away with that at the Curragh. “It’s a real test of stamina, you have to get every yard of a mile. It’s a great test for a horse — a true test, the best horses always rock up here and champions win the Irish Guineas. “The turf is fantastic, the ground is always really, really good here. There’s never any hard luck stories. Nine out of ten times the best horse always wins at the Curragh.”
