SONNY DELIGHT
SONNYBOYLISTON gained a points verdict in the Ebor Handicap to have Johnny Murtagh dreaming of a St Leger double — and a tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
Rising star Ben Coen’s mount had just a head to spare over Quickthorn in a stirring finish to Britain’s richest handicap.
The victory gave three-time Derby-winning jockey Murtagh – successful at Royal Ascot with Create Belief and Glorious Goodwood with Ottoman Emperor – another big prize as a trainer this summer.
Murtagh, who had given the four-year-old a feel of the Knavesmire when sixth in the
Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup last month, said: “Last year, when he won on Champions Day in Ireland it was a mileand-a-quarter and I thought, ‘When he steps up in distance, he could get a bit better.’
“At the start of this year, I thought, ‘We’ll start him off at a mile-and-a-quarter but he could be a horse that could end up at the Ebor’.”
Sonnyboyliston works with Ottoman Emperor, a best-priced 8-1 for the Cazoo St Leger at
Doncaster on September 11 after his victory in Goodwood’s Group 3 March Stakes last time out, on the Kildare gallops.
“Who goes best? I’m not telling you!” joked the 51-yearold, who will aim yesterday’s winner at the Irish version at the Curragh the following afternoon before a possible venture Down Under for the Melbourne Cup on November 2
“He has to improve a lot to get there, but that’s the next logical step.” Kildare-based
Murtagh, who rode 10 winners as a teenage apprentice in Australia, revealed: “There were a lot of offers beforehand for the Melbourne Cup and there were a few deals close. There will have to be big offers now!”
Marco Ghiani rode the biggest winner of his career when the Saeed bin Suroorsaddled Real World strode to a length-and-a-quarter victory in the Group 3 Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes.
“He’s just taking my career up a level,” said the jockey, on board for Real World’s Royal Hunt Cup triumph at Royal Ascot in June and when the four-year-old scored in Listed grade at Newbury last month.