Former champion jockey Oisin Murphy will ride G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas runner-up Ramatuelle (Justify) in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot on June 21. Murphy replaces Aurelien Lemaitre.
The filly, who earned a 'TDN Rising Star' badge on debut, was third to the re-opposing Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) at Newmarket. The G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin heroine was second to dual Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the G1 Prix Morny at two. In her 3-year-old bow, she found only Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) too good in the G3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville, missing by just a half-length in April.
The Irishman said of the Christopher Head trainee, “I thought she ran very well in the Guineas and it looks to be one of the most competitive races of the week.
“There are a lot of stars in there and there is a whole host of them who can win, but she was very good at two and has done nothing wrong this year. [Qatar Racing]'s Sheikh Fahad is part of her ownership along with the former NBA star Tony Parker and a few others.”
Already successful aboard 11 Royal Ascot winners to date, Murphy will also be in action aboard Aussie raider and G1 King Charles III S. entrant Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) for Henry Dwyer, as well as Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}), who is bound for the Sandringham S. for Aussie co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent, Jr. Asfoora, a multiple group winner in Australia, was a good fourth in the G2 Temple S. at Haydock on May 25.
“Asfoora would have needed her run at Haydock on tiring ground but felt very good when I rode her yesterday morning,” Murphy added. “I rode her just over four furlongs on the grass in Newmarket and she is fit and ready to go. Hopefully she can put up a bold show.”
He said of the former Natalia Lupini trainee, “Kitty Rose was trained in Ireland and has been with her Australian connections only a short time. But she's a big, powerful filly who has good form.
“She is going to carry a lot of weight in the Sandringham, but it often takes a group filly to win the race and she has already proven that she is that–she's a very good ride to pick up.”
Murphy Reunites With Tamfana In Diane
Prior to the start of Royal Ascot, Chantilly will host the G1 Prix de Diane Longines on Sunday, June 16, and Murphy will ride 1000 Guineas fourth Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) for trainer David Menuisier. Notably unlucky in that Newmarket showpiece, the bay was third one race before the Guineas in the Prix Imprudence.
“I thought that when we would take her over a longer trip she would be better and I thought we would use the Guineas as a stepping stone for the Prix de Diane, but at the same time I did say to the owners we were running at Newmarket to win–it was not just a prep race it was a proper target,” said Menuisier.
“She was travelling alongside Ryan Moore on Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and when I saw Ryan struggling and our filly still travelling I thought if she gets the gap, she surely can't get beat. Sadly she didn't get the gap.”
The Frenchman, who operates out of Sussex, added on the jockey switch, “Jamie [Spencer] did absolutely nothing wrong, I said it at the time and I say it again.
“Oisin has always been number one and has come down a few times this year and last year to work the filly and I always made it clear to Jamie's agent whenever Oisin is available he would ride the horse. It is nothing to do with the ride in the Guineas.
“I'm not sure what else he could do he does not have wings, he could not fly over the wall of horses in front of him. I think to the day I die I won't have any regrets–first of all about the jockey booking and secondly how he rode the race. We have to move on and Oisin Murphy rides and it has always been the plan.”
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