Murtagh Revelling in another Derby winner Johnny Murtagh is one of the faces of Irish Derby Weekend and today bagged the second of the Curragh festival’s two lesser derbies, as his Georgie Benson-partnered Fixation (well-backed 2/1fav) landed the Reserve Ladies Derby for new owners. Successful with the Rory Mulligan-ridden Darius Dark in yesterday’s Apprentice Derby, Fixation today quickened clear to score easily from Genoah, providing Benson with a second success in the race having scored on Elite Trooper Grey in 2021. Murtagh, with four Irish Derbys wins and a near miss with a Royal Ascot runner-up last week, quipped “that’s two derbies in two days, but it's only I don't have a runner in the one tomorrow!” He added “Fixation is a grand little horse and has really improved. I thought he was a little bit unlucky last time in a better race and Shane (Reville, part owner) rang me a couple of weeks ago and said 'I think we should go for the Ladies Derby'. “Shane is a good friend, this is his first horse with me and when I was riding, he helped me with the form. He is pretty sharp, so fair dues to him. Himself and the lads bought this horse, sent him to me and it's great to have a winner for them here on Irish Derby weekend. "The horses are running really well. They are hitting the board and that's all you can do. You come, you think they are going to run well and as long as they can perform to the best of their ability, that's our job. I've got a great team around me." Quotes from John O’Riordan
