Successful transition from champion jockey to the training ranks

Meath Chronicle sports editor Conall Collier caught up with Bohermeen man and five-time champion jockey-turned-Group 1-winning trainer Johnny Murtagh early last week. Topics discussed included the imminent arrival of some top class yearlings from Aga Khan Studs, that first Group 1 winner, his association with the soon-to-retire trainer John Oxx, his 200/1 bid for the 1998 Epsom Derby and how he now shouts with enthusiasm for Kildare lady footballers.

Bohermeen man Johnny Murtagh scaled the heights of the flat racing world in a career that spanned four decades up to his retirement from the saddle in 2013 when he then eased into the training ranks at his impressive Fox Covert Stables near Kildare town and beside the impressive Curragh training grounds.

Boxing was high on the radar for the talented Murtagh growing up in Bohermeen in Meath and it's an interest he still retains through his association with the St Brigid's club in Kildare.

However, instead of pursuing a pugilists career, Murtagh headed over to Lilywhite country as a 15-year-old to become an apprentice jockey after a stint at RACE (Racing Academy and Centre of Education) not too far from where he is now based.

Good fortune may have had something to do with it, but Murtagh landed on his feet when he was despatched from RACE to the stables of top trainer John Oxx.

He claimed the champion apprentice title in his second season and the Murtagh-Oxx combination was successful for many years with some great horses for the Aga Khan - the likes of Sinndar, Enzeli, Alarmshar.

Last month John Oxx announced his intention to retire from the training ranks and he had his last runner at the Curragh last Monday.

Then, there was a major boost for Murtagh when it was revealed that he would train for the Aga Khan in 2021.

The association with John Oxx was a lengthy one spanning the period from when he started off in 1987 and he was stable jockey from 1992 until 2003.

After that there was also a successful three-year stint as first jockey at Ballydoyle for trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Murtagh will have a number of well-bred Aga Khan Studs yearlings arriving at Fox Covert in the coming weeks and he will join the team of trainers that includes Dermot Weld and Michael Halford.

Murtagh’s first winner as a trainer arrived when Ben Curtis partnered Benbecula, his ninth runner, to victory in what was a low key contest over a mile and a half at Tramore in 2013.

Murtagh finished that season with 13 winners as a trainer, 30 winners in Ireland as a jockey and 15 in the UK.

The five-time champion flat jockey will now have his sights set on the flat trainers' title in the not too distant future and this year he has already sent out 44 winners, his best tally so far since he had that important first winner at Tramore back in 2013.

JOHN OXX

"I went to the apprentice school in Kildare, I had never ridden a racehorse until then, but I got on well," recalled the Bohermeen man.

"After two months training and learning how to ride properly I was sent to John Oxx's stables, I was 15 at the time and it was a great place to go.

"I learned a lot from Mr Oxx and he looked after me really well, I was the champion apprentice fairly quickly and was stable jockey at the age of 21.

"He played a huge part in my life, he was like a father figure for me at first when I was away from home, he always looked after me very well, him and his wife Caitriona.

"He was a real gentleman, he was very quietly spoken and was, and is, a very decent man and I wish him well now in his retirement.

"Since I started training in 2013 I would meet him most mornings on the gallops and we would have a chat.

"I would always have been able to get his opinion if I was concerned about something.

"He was always generous with his advice and he would always try to help.

"I had some great winners for him, an Epsom Derby with Sinndar, but the first big horse he had would have been Ridgewood Pearl, we won the Breeders' Cup and she was a champion filly.

"Other great horses he had while I was there included Enzeli and Alarmshar, he was producing a champion nearly every year.”

FIRST GROUP 1 WINNER

"Colin Keane rode my first Group 1 winner, a Meath man like myself, he is undoubtedly the number one jockey in Ireland at the moment.

"I was just delighted to get him for my horse on the day because Ger (Lyons) had nothing in the race.

"He was brilliant on the day, to win a Group 1 on Champions Weekend meant everything, that's what we get up in the morning for.

"We had the best man on board and it won't be too long before Colin hits the international scene with success.

"He has a great attitude, he just does the job and he does it well, he probably mightn't even realise how good he is.

"Colin is getting a few opportunities now for Aidan O'Brien and Ballydoyle, that's not a surprise.

"I had that gig for three seasons and it's great recognition when the leading trainer in Ireland is putting you up on his horses.

“Aidan wouldn't be putting you up if he didn't think you were good enough so it's a big compliment to Colin.

"I was at the other end of the age-spectrum when I got the call from Ballydoyle, I was 38 and it was just at the right time for me.

"I was getting up on all the best horses, I had 51 Group 1 winners for Ballydoyle.

"Horses like Yeats, Henry The Navigator, Duke Of Marmalade, I could go on, all good horses, it was great going out on a Ballydoyle horse, usually the best horse in the race.

"I enjoyed every minute of it for the three years, I had the experience and you just have to make the right moves or you won't be getting another chance.

"That's the difference, you're only as good as your last ride and the great jockeys make less mistakes, it's as simple as that, nine out of 10 times you get it right.”

TRAINING AT THE CURRAGH

"Training at the Curragh is great, it's a fabulous facility and there are probably about 1,000 horses in training at the moment, that would be down a bit from when I started.

"Every morning you would see all the strings (of horses) going out, we all know what the schedules are and we all try to avoid clashes on the gallops and it works out well.

"It's a very big area and you would bump into other trainers most mornings, but we all have enough to worry about with our own lots when they are out.

"This is the best year we have had so far with over €1,000,000 in prizemoney, a Group 1 success at Leopardstown on Champions Weekend and a number of other Group races, the year has gone really well.

" You would always be hoping to attract some of the bigger owners and if it didn't happen you would be thinking what do I have to do?”

AGA KHAN

"Thankfully, it has happened, but then myself and the Aga Khan have had an association since I was with Mr Oxx as an apprentice.

"For the Aga Khan to nominate me as a trainer in Ireland is a huge boost and I suppose I can describe it as recognition for what we (the team) have achieved so far.

"I'm in a hurry at this game, I want to get there, achieve success as quickly as possible.

"After the year we have had I would have been disappointed not to get some sort of recognition and this now is, as I said, a great boost for the yard.

"We are really looking forward to getting the new horses in for next year.

"I have been busy for the last month or so going to the sales and buying for both my current clients and some new ones as well.

"We need to build on the success of 2020, to keep the momentum going and that's what we plan to do heading into next year.

"When I started training in 2013 I combined it and riding for that season, but I never had any doubt about my own ability.

"I knew I could do the job, but I had to make a start somewhere.

"You need the horses, that's the most important bit, you need to be getting 20 to 25 new horses every year, new two-year-olds to see if you can find the big-race winners for the following season.

"The budget we had to work with from 2013 up to now, I think we did well with what we had and will continue to do so.”

1998 EPSOM DERBY

"I was talking to Noel Meade recently and he said to me 'you thought you could win on everything' and that would probably describe my attitude when I went down to the start for the 1998 Epsom Derby.

"I was on Sunshine Street for Noel, but I didn't pass too much remarks that he was 200/1, as they say the horse didn't know what price he was.

"We were in front all the way to the furlong pole before eventually finishing fourth to High Rise.

"I gave the horse the best chance of winning, I was a bit disappointed that we didn't make third place.

"Noel was reasonably happy when we came back in, he wouldn't have sent him over to Epsom if he didn't think he had some chance.

"Noel wouldn't be one for running horses in big races just to have a runner, he'd want to be winning as well.

FAMILY

"I don't miss having to watch the weight since I retired as a jockey and it's amazing that since I stopped watching the scales I haven't really put on too much weight.

"My wife Orla and another lady, Breda McHale are very important to the whole operation as are all the staff and the family.

“Our children all help out as well, Caroline, Charles, Lauren, Grace and Tom.

"Caroline and Lauren ride out in the mornings, Caroline rode seven winners so far, Lauren is on the Kildare ladies senior football team.

"I'm shouting for Kildare now, that mightn't go down well back in Bohermeen.

"I still keep an eye on the boxing club we have here in Kildare town, Paddy Phelan is the main man, his daughter Katelynn won a world title in October and I drop in from time to time to see how they're going.

"We are working away as normal with the racing behind closed doors, but you would miss the spectators.

"We can't complain too much as we are able to get on with our work, it's a desperate time for everyone, but we have to do the best we can."