Murtagh hoping for breakthrough win with Zahrann in Irish Champion Stakes
The Navan-native has 14 runners across the two-day event
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Johnny Murtagh with jockey Ben Coen after Zahrann's win in the the Group 3 Newbridge Silverware Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh in August
The Irish Champions Festival is a meet that gets the full Sharpie treatment from legendary jockey-turned-trainer Johnny Murtagh – the date being circled many times on the 55-year-old’s calendar at the start of the year, writes Phil Campbell.
The two-day racing extravaganza is one of the jewels in Irish racing’s crown and will see the best of the best make the pilgrimage to both Leopardstown and the Curragh in search of career defining victories.
Murtagh’s storied association with the sport is built on such wins; the type that catapult individuals from good to greatness.
Whilst in the saddle, Murtagh compiled a CV most jockeys could only dream of; a clean sweep of the Irish Classics, the Irish Derby-Derby-Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe treble aboard Sinndar in 2000, and the 1996 Irish Champions Stakes to name but a few achievements.
Now as a trainer, Murtagh, who has 14 runners this weekend, heads back to the scene of his first Group One winner – Champers Elysees in the 2020 Matron Stakes – in search of his third with three-year-old colt Zahrann, riden by Ben Coen, primed and ready for the Irish Champion Stakes.
“This weekend is a very important weekend in Irish racing,” said Murtagh, who obtained his training licence in 2013. “As a trainer it's very important because you can show off your talents. It's a big weekend for us all; the top jockeys, owners, trainers and horses will be there, so we want to be competing with them.”
The Champion Stakes had been billed as the trilogy between Delacroix and Ombudsman; a decider to see whether Ballydoyle or Godolphin would reign supreme.
But John Gosden’s decision to pull his prized asset from the Leopardstown showpiece – preferring to focus on Ascot’s Champions Day, the Breeders' Cup and Japan Cup – has seen a gap open in the market.
Zahrann, who has won three of his five starts including last time out in the Group 3 Newbridge Silverware Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh, is currently second favourite with the bookies and seen as the main threat to Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix, and Murtagh his hoping his charge can excel on what will be his Group 1 debut.
“He’s stepping up to Group 1 company, it’s his first time, but we're hoping he can do it,” he continued. “You’re always hoping that they can keep going through the grades and eventually rock up in these Group 1s. He’s only had five runs, so he lacks a little bit of experience, but we feel this is the next logical step.
“If he could be competitive this weekend, it would open up a whole new ball game for him going forward. Preparation has gone well for the horse. Everything has gone smoothly since his last run, and we’re excited to see what he can do.”
Legends past. Champions yet to come. This weekend, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS!🏆🐎#IrishChampionsFestival #ItAllComesDownToThis @LeopardstownRC @curraghrace @HKJC_Racing @ToteRacing @thetotecom @WorldPool @RacingTV @RacingPost @IrishEBF_ @TheIrishField @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/nRzjKeC9Si
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Poignantly, this weekend’s Festival will be the first since the passing of His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV in February.
The Aga Khan had a colossal impact on Irish racing and played a significant role in Murtagh’s career.
Between 1992 and 2003, Murtagh was the stable jockey for trainer John Oxx, in which he was triumphant in 18 Group 1 races aboard Aga Khan-owned horses, including the aforementioned Irish Derby-Derby-Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe treble with Sinndar.
It was a relationship that was renewed again in 2011 and Murtagh explained his delight at working alongside him.
“He was hugely influential on Irish racing, he gave a lot to it,” he said. “Being his number one jockey, it was a huge honour. When I started training, to get his support as one of the big owners/breeders, for him to come into my yard, it meant the world. I’m so grateful to have had a long and successful association with him.”
With Zahrann owned by the Exors Of The Late His Highness Aga Khan, a win on Saturday would be a hugely personal one for Murtagh, who added: “He was a great man to ride for, a great man to train for, and if we could get the win in Saturday’s big one, it would be the icing on the cake.”