Jockey Oisin Murphy will have a classy horse to look forward to when his 14-month suspension comes to a close on February 16 with trainer George Boughey confirming that Missed The Cut (Quality Road), on course for a tilt at the G3 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia on February 25, will be partnered by the Irish man.
Murphy was banned for breaking Covid rules, misleading the regulator and prejudicial conduct, plus two alcohol breaches.
However, Boughey has explained that the rider has been busy putting in the groundwork with his Royal Ascot scorer Missed The Cut behind the scenes in recent weeks, with the Newmarket operator hoping Murphy can develop a good bond with the colt this season.
“Oisin Murphy will ride him,” Boughey said on Monday. “It's taken quite a lot of brainpower throughout his career so far, he's had a number of jockeys and I think a horse like him probably deserves to have a jockey that's going to try and ride him wherever possible.
“I had a long chat with Oisin at the back end of last year when we were trying to make a plan for him. William Buick and Ryan Moore traditionally ride mine whenever they can but I think, at their own admission, they won't be able to ride him come the summer.
“They were available to ride him in Saudi but we're just prolonging the inevitable and I want someone who is going to be able to create a bond with the horse.”
Murphy has ridden Missed The Cut at home and in a racecourse gallop at Chelmsford in a newly-established alliance between trainer and jockey.
Boughey added, “He's done plenty of work, he's been to Chelmsford to ride him the other morning and he's delighted with him. It's a bit of a new thing, Oisin has only ridden one winner for me so it's not really a relationship that's had much to go at so far.
“He's obviously a fantastic rider and I'm delighted to have him on board. He's ridden at Newmarket and he went to Chelmsford the other morning, his work has been pretty good and there are few better men to know what a top-class horse looks like than Oisin.”
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