Teen star Murphy is a mover and shaker
THE interview over, Oisin Murphy moves to walk back into the inner sanctum of the weighing room before sharply turning on his heels.
Thrusting out a hand, he says: ‘How rude of me. I forgot to shake your hand.’
The big new thing in the Flat racing world has Group One manners to accompany impressive riding.
This time last year, the 18-year-old was closing in on his first ride and his first winner did not arrive until mid-June. Since then he has had 76 winners and is fast closing in on a target of 95. That signals the end of an apprentice weight allowance faster than any other jockey since the rules were amended in 1992.
The teenager has already been handed a string of big-race rides when he cannot use the allowance.
Murphy said: ‘I’m very fortunate trainers are putting me up. Riding in group and listed races is when you really learn because you’re riding good horses against the best jockeys.’
Punters had already spotted his potential by the time he made his first big splash with a 9,260-1 fourtimer at Ayr in September which featured Ayr Gold Cup winner Highland Colori for royal trainer Andrew Balding. Balding was trying to ensure his teenage protege did not fritter away his weight claim on inconsequential successes. Murphy, who had five rides at Newbury yesterday, said: ‘I rode a double at Chepstow in August and it was decided I shouldn’t ride in races less than Class 4 and worth less than £6,000. At the time I was a bit disappointed but now I am very grateful.’
Balding then sent Murphy to Australian trainer Danny O’Brien for the winter. The jockey, a Chelsea fan, impressed so much that he was thrust into a nononsense racing arena and brought in 13 winners.
Murphy’s uncle is Jim Culloty, who rode Best Mate to three wins in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and trained this year’s winner, Lord Windermere, a horse Murphy has schooled.
Murphy added: ‘Jim got me into racing and taught me the basics from the beginning and I speak to him every second day.’