Qatar Racing colourbearer Perfect Sign (Ire) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) gave pilot Oisin Murphy his 1,000 winner. The reigning champion jockey and retained rider for Qatar Racing teamed up with the juvenile filly for trainer Michael Dods at Southwell. The 25-year-old Irishman, who was the champion apprentice in the UK in 2014, was appointed number one Jockey for Qatar Racing in 2016. On board Qatar Racing's Kameko (Kitten's Joy) he gained his first Classic success in the 2020 G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas.
Murphy told Sky Sports Racing: “I ride for great people, and it's really nice to get my 1,000th in these colours. The filly is in the sale on Thursday, so it's a good moment. When you start out as an apprentice you hope to just get one winner–hopefully I can ride 1,000 more in the future. I ride good horses all over the world–I'm very privileged and I have to remember that.”
The Kitten's Joy colt, who is bound for a stallion career at Tweenhills Farm & Stud after a start in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 7, galloped at Kempton on Tuesday.
“We've been so lucky to find good horses over the years,” he added. “Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) was a champion, as is Kameko, but to replace them isn't easy–so we keep trying. To win my first Classic on Kameko was great–growing up as a child you watch all the Classics, and that was very special.
“Kameko heads to the Breeders' Cup, and we took him to Kempton this morning and we went round left-handed so he could get used to that.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
