Johnny Murtagh

Johnny Murtagh is one of the best known names in international racing due to his high-profile exploits in the saddle. However, such fame and success has not come easily to him and he has had to overcome his share of problems over the years to reach his enviable position at the top of the worldwide jockey ranks.

Principal Trainers: John Oxx, Aidan O’Brien, Mick Halford, Ger Lyons

Johnny MurtaghNotable Wins:

  • Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Recital 2010, Fame And Glory 2008) 
  • Criterium International (Roderic O’Connor 2010) 
  • Prix Marcel Boussac (Misty For Me 2010) 
  • Matron Stakes (Lillie Langtry 2010, Soviet Song 2004, Timarida 1995) 
  • Juddmonte International Stakes (Rip Van Winkle 2010, Duke Of Marmalade 2008) 
  • Phoenix Stakes (Zoffany 2010, Alfred Nobel 2009, Mastercraftsman 2008) 
  • July Cup (Starspangledbanner 2010, Frizzante 2004) 
  • Irish Derby (Cape Blanco 2010, Fame And Glory 2009, Alamshar 2003, Sinndar 2000) 
  • Golden Jubilee Stakes (Starspangledbanner 2010, Soldier’s Tale 2007, Choisir 2004, Superior Premium 2000) 
  • Coronation Stakes (Lillie Langtry 2010, Ridgewood Pearl 1995) 
  • Coronation Cup (Fame And Glory 2010, Soldier Of Fortune 2008) 
  • Tattersalls Gold Cup (Fame And Glory 2010, Duke Of Marmalade 2008, Notnowcato 2007) 
  • Racing Post Trophy (St Nicholas Abbey 2009, Dilshaan 2000) 
  • Prix de l'Abbaye (Total Gallery 2009, Namid 2000) 
  • Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Rip Van Winkle 2009) 
  • Sussex Stakes (Rip Van Winkle 2009, Henrythenavigator 2008, Soviet Song 2004) 
  • Ascot Gold Cup (Yeats 2009 + 2008, Royal Rebel 2002 + 2001, Enzeli 1999) 
  • St James's Palace Stakes (Mastercraftsman 2009, Henrythenavigator 2008, Black Minnaloushe 2001) 
  • Irish 2000 Guineas (Mastercraftsman 2009, Henrythenavigator 2008, Black Minnaloushe 2001) 
  • Irish 1000 Guineas (Again 2009) 
  • Prix Royal Oak (Yeats 2008) 
  • National Stakes (Mastercraftsman 2008, Sinndar 1999, Manntari 1993) 
  • Prix Morny (Bushranger 2008) 
  • Nassau Stakes (Halfway To Heaven 2008, Peeping Fawn 2007) 
  • King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Duke Of Marmalade 2008, Dylan Thomas 2007, Alamshar 2003) 
  • Irish Oaks (Moonstone 2008, Peeping Fawn 2007, Petrushka 2000, Winona 1998, Ebadiyla 1997) 
  • Eclipse Stakes (Mount Nelson 2008) 
  • Prince Of Wales Stakes (Duke Of Marmalade 2008) 
  • Queen Anne Stakes (Haradasun 2008, No Excuse Needed 2002) 
  • English 2000 Guineas (Henrythenavigator 2008, Rock of Gibraltar 2002) 
  • Prix Ganay (Duke Of Marmalade 2008) 
  • UAE Derby (Honour Devil 2008) 
  • Fillies Mile (Listen 2007) 
  • Yorkshire Oaks (Peeping Fawn 2007, Petrushka 2000, Key Change 1996) 
  • Falmouth Stakes (Simply Perfect 2007, Soviet Song 2005 + 2004) 
  • Epsom Derby (Motivator 2005, High Chaparral 2002, Sinndar 2000) 
  • Prix du Cadran (Give Notice 2002) 
  • Hong Kong Vase (Daliapour 2000) 
  • Breeders' Cup Turf (Kalanisi 2000) 
  • English Champion Stakes (Kalanisi 2000) 
  • Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Sinndar 2000) 
  • Prix de l'Opéra (Petrushka 2000, Timarida 1995) 
  • Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ebadiya 1998) 
  • Irish Champion Stakes (Timarida 1996), Beverly D. Stakes (Timarida 1996) 
  • Breeders' Cup Mile (Ridgewood Pearl 1995) 
  • Prix du Moulin (Ridgewood Pearl 1995) 
  • Pretty Polly Stakes (Takarouna 1993) 

The Early Days

A promising footballer and boxer in his youth, Murtagh joined RACE in Co. Kildare in his mid-teens and on completion of the course there joined John Oxx as an apprentice. He rode his first winner on the Oxx-trained Chicago Style at Limerick on May 6th 1987 and he wasted little time in making a serious impact in the apprentice ranks, finishing second to Eddie Leonard in the 1988 Apprentice Championship. The following year he made no mistake and went one better to become the Champion Apprentice.

A Champion For The First Time

In 1991, Murtagh was appointed as stable jockey to the powerful John Oxx yard after Ron Quinton opted to return to his native Australia. He wasted no time in taking advantage of such a prized position and in his first season with Oxx, he finished second to Mick Kinane in the Jockeys’ Championship. 1995 was a memorable year for Johnny Murtagh as he was crowned Champion Jockey in Ireland for the first time.  It was during that season that he formed a hugely-successful partnership with the John Oxx-trained filly, Ridgewood Pearl. Together the pair won on four of the five occasions they teamed up, with their victories coming in the Athasi Stakes, the Coronation Stakes, the Prix Du Moulin and the Breeders Cup Mile.

He retained his Champion Jockey crown in 1996 and the following season he gained his first Classic victory when riding the John Oxx-trained Ebadiyla to victory in the Irish Oaks. He doubled his Classic tally when riding Winona to win the same race in 1998. That season was also notable for Murtagh as he regained his Champion Jockey title, having lost out in 1997.

A Remarkable Year

The year 2000 was a very special one in the career of Johnny Murtagh. He rode no less than 12 winners at Group 1 level with the highlights undoubtedly coming on the immensely talented Sinndar. The John Oxx-trained colt won the National Stakes as a juvenile before going on to the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby, the Prix Niel and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp as a three-year-old. That last-named day will long live in his memory as his Arc win was just one of three Group 1 winners on the day for him as he also partnered the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Petrushka to take the Prix de l’Opera and the John Oxx-trained Namid to win the Prix de l’Abbaye.

2001 saw Murtagh team up with Aidan O’Brien to gain a big-race success on Black Minnaloushe, who unexpectedly won the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, and the pair teamed up again to win the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June with the same horse. The following year Murtagh again teamed up with O’Brien to land two major prizes as he guided Rock Of Gibraltar to victory in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and High Chaparral to win the Epsom Derby.

2003 saw Murtagh win his second Irish Derby at the Curragh when riding Alamshar to victory for trainer John Oxx and he went on to ride the same horse to victory in the King George VI Stakes at Ascot in late-July. However, Murtagh was dogged by weight problems throughout the 2003 season due to a back injury he sustained in a freak accident at Royal Ascot in June. These problems resulted in him losing the position of stable jockey to John Oxx and more than a few people thought this would be the beginning of the end of Murtagh’s career.

Freelance Success

The 2004 season saw Murtagh ply his trade as a freelance and while he remained a very much in-demand rider in Ireland, he made more and more flying visits to England. These visits resulted in him forming a particularly profitable partnership with the James Fanshawe-trained Soviet Song with the pair combining to win the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes, the Falmouth Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the Matron Stakes. Murtagh and Fanshawe also combined to win the July Cup with Frizzante that season.

In 2005 Murtagh divided his time between riding for the Mick Halford yard in Ireland and making regular trips to England. Indeed, he picked up the plum ride on the ante-post favourite for the Epsom Derby, the Michael Bell-trained Motivator, and having ridden him to victory in the Dante Stakes he went on to win the Epsom showpiece by five lengths. The other highlight of his season came when gaining his second consecutive win in the Falmouth Stakes on Soviet Song. Towards the end of 2005, Johnny decided to try his luck over hurdles to help keep himself fit during the winter months and he notched up four victories from just a handful of rides, with his win on Golden Cross in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan undoubtedly being the highlight. He almost pulled off a famous victory on the same horse in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but the combination went down by a head in a thrilling finish with My Way De Solzen.

Ballydoyle Comes Calling

2006 was a busy season for Murtagh and while he failed to ride a Group 1 winner, despite finishing second in both the Irish and English Derby’s, he was a prolific performer in the biggest handicaps of the season. If that season was something of a disappointing year for Murtagh, 2007 saw him return to the very top of his game. With the unusual circumstances surrounding Ballydoyle’s stable jockey situation, Murtagh picked up an abundance of big-race rides for the powerful Tipperary outfit, resulting in him having a hugely successful year. However, his first Group 1 success came at the expense of Ballydoyle as he rode the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Notnowcato to narrowly beat Dylan Thomas in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. From there, he rode the Jeremy Noseda-trained Soldier’s Tale to win the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot before gaining his third win in the Falmouth Stakes when riding the Noseda-trained Simply Perfect to success. Murtagh then picked up the plum ride on Dylan Thomas in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and he made no mistake, riding the four-year-old to a hugely impressive four lengths success. However, the highlight of Murtagh’s season was arguably his partnership with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Peeping Fawn. He teamed up with the highly-progressive filly on her final three starts of the season, winning the Irish Oaks, the Nassau Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks. O’Brien also provided Murtagh with another Group 1 to wrap up a highly-successful season when Listen won the Fillies Mile at Ascot.

Rather than ride over hurdles in the winter of 2007/8, Murtagh decided to ride in Dubai and he was rewarded with a victory on World Cup night when riding the Mike De Kock-trained Honour Devil to success in the UAE Derby. However, it was at that time that an even more significant development took place, with Murtagh being confirmed as the retained rider for the Coolmore partnership of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, making him the stable jockey to Aidan O’Brien in everything but name.

A Year To Remember

The 2008 season saw Murtagh showed that he was better than ever, teaming up to Aidan O’Brien to have by far the most prolific season of his career and stamping himself as arguably the best jockey in the world. He began the season in great style, winning the Prix Ganay on Duke Of Marmalade. That four-year-old colt proved to be a lucrative partner for Murtagh, with the pair going on to win four additional Group 1 races. Henrythenavigator was another memorable partner for Murtagh, winning four consecutive Group 1 races including the English and Irish 2000 Guineas. He also tasted Group 1 glory on the likes of Mount Nelson, Moonstone, Halfway To Heaven, Yeats, Haradasun and Soldier Of Fortune. In terms of juveniles, Murtagh won the Phoenix Stakes and the National Stakes on Mastercraftsman, the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes on the David Wachman-trained Bushranger and the Critérium de Saint-Cloud on the O’Brien-trained Fame And Glory. He finished the season with a remarkable total of 21 Group 1 wins, a feat that is unlikely to be surpassed by any jockey in the foreseeable future.

Further Success At The Highest Level

2009 was another highly-successful year for Murtagh and if it wasn’t for a colt by the name of Sea The Stars being on the scene, it would have been even better. Mastercraftsman got Murtagh’s Group 1 ball rolling by winning the Irish 2000 Guineas and the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, the latter meeting will be always be remembered as the one during which Murtagh rode Yeats to win his historic fourth Ascot Gold Cup in succession, with it being Murtagh’s second success on the durable performer in the race. While Fame And Glory had to play second fiddle to Sea The Stars in the Epsom Derby, he gained compensation for Team Ballydoyle by leading home an O’Brien 1-2 in the Irish Derby under Murtagh. Rip Van Winkle had been the apple of Murtagh’s eye since his two-year-old campaign and he was arguably Ballydoyle’s star performer in 2009, bouncing back from three defeats at the hands of Sea The Stars to win the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. Murtagh also enjoyed a successful campaign on O’Brien-trained juveniles, with Alfred Nobel winning the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh and St Nicholas Abbey creating an excellent impression when winning the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in scintillating fashion. In terms of outside rides, Murtagh gained his first win in the Irish 1000 Guineas on the David Wachman-trained Again and Stan Moore-trained Total Gallery gave him his second win in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp.

Another Successful Campaign

Murtagh enjoyed yet another lucrative campaign in 2010, securing a dozen wins at the highest level. Fame And Glory got the ball rolling for him in Group 1’s, winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May and the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June. He again enjoyed a successful Royal Ascot, winning the Coronation Stakes on Lillie Langtry and the Golden Jubilee Stakes on Starspangledbanner. The latter performer again struck for Murtagh at the highest level in the July Cup at Newmarket in July, but not before he won another Irish Derby at the Curragh on Cape Blanco. His old friends Rip Van Winkle and Lillie Langtry also contributed to his Group 1 tally, with the former winning the Juddmonte International Stakes at York and the latter winning the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. Once again, Murtagh enjoyed a strong finish to the campaign courtesy of Aidan O’Brien’s juvenile squad, with him riding Zoffany, Misty For Me, Roderic O’Connor and Recital to Group 1 glory.

Just before the conclusion of the season, the news broke that Murtagh would not be continuing to ride as the retained rider for the Coolmore partnership in 2011 and a week later, it emerged that he would instead be riding as the retained jockey in Ireland for the Aga Khan, meaning that he will ride the majority of the horses trained by John Oxx. It will represent something of a completing of a circle for Murtagh, as he will be returning to the trainer that gave him his very first winner 24 years ago. While plenty of water has passed under the bridge since then, with Murtagh’s talents looking as sharp as ever, he looks to have many more seasons left at the top of his profession.

Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland - Updated January 2011