Johnny Murtagh

The conclusion of the two-day Goffs Sportsman's Sale on Friday marked the end of a strong four days of trade at Goffs's Kildare Paddocks, with both the Orby and Sportsman's Sales rebounding from difficult 2020 renewals--when forced to move to Doncaster--and posting significant gains. A shade over €3-million was added to the coffers on Friday when 150 of the 162 yearlings offered sold, bringing the two-day aggregate to €6,967,300. The cumulative average jumped 41% to €20,674, while the cumulative median rose 45% to €16,000. Last year at Doncaster, 67.7% of...

Dundalk's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden had the feel of a must-watch race beforehand and Friday's seven-furlong contest lived up to expectations playing host to a new TDN Rising Star in Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Angels Wrath (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Flaunting her wares in a barrier trial here prior to this debut against some smart yardsticks, the 9-2 shot was restrained in mid-division early showing keenness under Ben Coen. Looming with menace when pulled wide in the straight, the Johnny Murtagh-trained homebred showed sharp acceleration to hit the...

Sunday's G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger hero Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) will not travel Down Under for a tilt in the 2021 G1 Melbourne Cup. Trained by Johnny Murtagh, the Kildare Racing Club colourbearer took the Listed Martin Molony S. at Limerick in June and, although sixth in the G3 John Smith's Silver Cup S. at York on July 10, bounced back with a narrow win in the Sky Bet Ebor H. there on Aug. 21. The 4-year-old gelding defeated 2020 Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo...

It's a childish game but I've long amused myself by seeing how many song titles can be weaved into headlines and this weekend's results provided an open goal for a Neil Young classic, not once but twice.  Two hurricanes blew across Town Moor on Saturday at the opposite ends of the distance spectrum. Hurricane Ivor (Ire) (Ivawood {GB}) is an admirable sprinter who has bounced back from a blistering debut for Fabrice Chappet and subsequent illness that ruled him out of much of his juvenile season. He has been creeping...

Underlining the strength of York's revamped Ebor H., the Kildare Racing Club's Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) bounced out of his success in that prestigious affair to bring up a notable double in Sunday's G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger at The Curragh. With the dual winner Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) unable to make an impact this time, the Johnny Murtagh-trained 4-year-old had the Joseph O'Brien pair Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) to contend with and proved toughest to carry...

Classic winner Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris already this summer, will line up for Godolphin in the G1 Cazoo St Leger on Sept. 11, one of 18 colts and fillies left in the fall Classic. G1 Cazoo Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who also races for Godolphin, will not take part, and instead target the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Richard Hannon's Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), one better than...

Mark Dobbin's Ladies Church (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) registered a June 9 debut fourth at Cork, behind the reopposing Impeachd Alexander (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), and followed up a June 30 breakthrough score over five furlongs at Tipperary with an impressive display tackling the same trip in Wednesday's Listed Arqana Irish EBF Marwell S. at Naas, becoming the first stakes winner for her freshman sire (by Galileo {Ire}). The 3-1 second favourite was restrained to race in an overall third as British raider Sophie's Star (GB) (Cotai Glory {GB}) blazed a solo...

Valerie Keatley, head girl for trainer Johnny Murtagh, was honoured with the Irish Racing Excellence Award at the 2021 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards on Wednesday. Keatley, who also won the Leadership Award (Stable), has been with Murtagh since shortly after he set up his training business and Murtagh credits her contribution as one of the reasons behind the yard's success. Keatley said, "It was a huge honour to be nominated and be chosen as one of the finalists. To win the Leadership Stable Award and then win the...

Five-time Irish Champion Jockey Johnny Murtagh, who has been training since 2013, will join the roster of HH The Aga Khan's trainers in Ireland, The Aga Khan Studs announced on Tuesday. Trainer of this season's G1 Matron S. heroine Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), Murtagh was stable jockey to John Oxx from 1992 until 2003 and rode many winners in the iconic green and red colours, among them English and Irish Derby hero Sinndar (Ire) (Grand Lodge). Murtagh was also retained jockey for His Highness The Aga Khan in 2011...

Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm has purchased the recent G1 Matron S. winner Champers Elysees (GB) (Elzaam {Aus}) from Dublin-based syndicate Fitzwilliam Racing. The 3-year-old filly was selected by trainer Johnny Murtagh and Eddie Linehan for €28,000 from the 2018 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and was one of 10 yearlings in Fitzwilliam Racing's third intake. She broke her maiden on her fourth start at The Curragh last year and was second in Naas's Birdcatcher H. She has gone unbeaten in four tries this year, winning at handicap and listed...

Two progressive 3-year-old fillies fought out the finish of Wednesday's rescheduled G3 Coolmore No Nay Never Fairy Bridge S., with Fitzwilliam Racing's Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) emerging on top of Haras de Saint Pair's Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in what could turn out to be a signpost to bigger things for both. Last seen winning by seven lengths in the Listed Corrib Fillies S. over seven furlongs at Galway July 28, Champers Elysees who traded as the 5-6 favourite going an extra half furlong here tracked the...

Trainer Johnny Murtagh has the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend Sept. 12 as a goal for two fillies in his stable, though one has another hurdle to clear beforehand. Qatar Racing homebred Know It All (GB) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) punched her ticket when following up a victory in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Fillies S. with a third-place finish in the G1 Prix Rothschild on Aug. 2. Last out listed winner Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), meanwhile, will take the next step in the G3 Fairy Bridge...