No respite for marvellous Murtagh

13 April 2012

Johnny Murtagh's unforgettable year of international riding success for the Aga Khan may not yet be finished, with potential assignments in New York and Tokyo before the month is out.

The 30-year-old Breeders' Cup hero - whose string of top-flight triumphs this season have catapulted him among the global elite of riders - has pencilled in plans to don the famous green-and-red silks on filly Mouramara at Aqueduct's Long Island Handicap this Saturday and Daliapour in the Japan Cup on 26 November.

The latter is trained in Newmarket by Sir Michael Stoute, with whom Murtagh combined to hand Europe its sole Breeders' Cup success on Kalanisi in the $2.27 million Turf event at Kentucky's Churchill Downs two days ago. But Daliapour's participation in Tokyo's Grade One contest relies on meeting its selection criteria.

Murtagh must also discover whether the weight allotted to Mouramara, trained by his retaining Irish handler John Oxx, in the Grade Two handicap falls within his range. But he has already been replaced by Australian Greg Hall on Enzeli in tomorrow's Melbourne Cup following the Aga Khan's decision to sell the 1999 Ascot Gold Cup winner.

Meticulous preparation, split-second riding decisions and a horse talented enough to respond were qualities united in Kalanisi to bring Europe its eighth Turf success from 17 renewals. It was also the Aga Khan's first Breeders' Cup win since Lashkari opened our Turf account in the inaugural 1984 Series.

Following his 1996 Turf 1-2 with Pilsudski and Singspiel, Stoute's attention to detail was outstanding during last week's on-track preparation of Kalanisi and Filly & Mare Turf fifth Petrushka.

Following the colt's skittish spilling of his work rider eight days ago, he repeatedly familiarised Kalanisi with the problematic bend - although it didn't stop the horse dumping Murtagh in the same spot minutes before the race - as well as with the alien, US-style paddock and tunnel-access to the track.

Stoute applied for special permission to have a lead-pony during work on the turf course, his own special handlers behind the starting-gate for the race, no handler to be present - contrary to US-style - inside the stall and a blindfold to be used for loading.

"Kalanisi can be playboyish and we just had one blip with him that Sunday. He gained confidence with the pony lead and then we were happy with him," said Stoute. "But these details mean nothing if you haven't got the ammunition, the horse."

Mick Kinane remains winless in the Series after brave Giant's Causeway failed by a neck to complete his impossible mission of winning the $4.77 million Classic first time out on a dirt surface.

A below-par seventh on Montjeu in the Turf, frustrated Kinane found US rider Chris McCarron one step ahead of him at every stage in the Classic. Both had to overcome wide draws, but Tiznow broke faster, lost less ground at the first bend and - unthinkably - outbattled Giant's Causeway in the straight. But Kinane may torture himself with the moment, 100 yards from the line, when he fumbled exchanging his whip from left to right hand,

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No respite for marvellous Murtagh

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