Oisin Murphy will officially be named champion Flat jockey in Britain for the fourth time in his career on Saturday. This year the jockeys' championship began on Saturday, May 4 and ends with QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot where Murphy will receive his prize.
Before racing at Chelmsford on Thursday, Murphy had ridden 162 winners and held an unassailable lead over his closest pursuers, Rossa Ryan (108) and Tom Marquand (103). The 29-year-old succeeds dual champion jockey William Buick, adding to his three consecutive championship wins in 2019, 2020 and 2021. He also becomes the first Flat jockey since Kieren Fallon, who won the last of his six titles in 2003, to be crowned champion in Britain more than three times.
Murphy has ridden two Group 1 winners on British soil this year and they both came at Royal Ascot where he partnered Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) to win the King Charles III Stakes and Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) to win the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. He added to those victories on the international stage when recently winning the GI Summer Stakes at Woodbine on the Breeders' Cup-bound New Century (GB) (Kameko).
“I feel much more appreciative winning this championship,” said Murphy. “As I am now older it means much more to me. I am thankful to many people who have helped me in achieving the title for the fourth time. My agent Gavin [Horne] has been booking my rides in all my championship victories and for many years. My uncle Jim [Culloty] marked out my career from the very beginning on whose stables I was sent to, [including] Tommy Stack, Aidan O'Brien and Andrew Balding.
“This season winning the Summer Stakes on New Century in Canada would be a highlight. I used to ride his sire and I have had success on his half-brother. I have ridden him a lot at home so seeing his career start gave me great pleasure.”
He added, “Being at the end of the year, with many big races to come, it is hard to say [whether he'll target a fifth championship in 2025]. It will be something I will discuss with my family, agent and manager Jimmy [Derham] before I would set that target again. It's not something you just fall into–if you want to win a championship you have to have intent and be committed. It doesn't just occur.”
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