Bohermeen man's first Royal Ascot winner as a trainer

Create Belief was an aptly-named first Royal Ascot winner for Bohermeen man Johnny Murtagh today.

It gave both jockey Ben Coen and trainer Johnny Murtagh a first Royal Ascot success in the Sandringham Handicap for three-year-old fillies.

Meath man Murtagh had much success in the saddle at Royal Ascot, registering 43 victories during a distinguished career, but his first as a trainer will have been as sweet as any of those.

An impressive victory it was too, with Create Belief (6/1) pulling five and a half lengths clear of runner-up Samoot (5/1 fav) in the straight mile contest. Messidor (14/1) was a further three lengths back in third.

Murtagh said: “I was very successful at this track as a jockey – I love the place. To come back as a trainer now, this means the world. It means the world to me, means the world to my wife, means the world to all the staff back home. It’s a special place, it's a magical place, and it's a magical day.

“Training is a much tougher game. You're with the horses all the time, I'm responsible for 25 staff and huge thanks to them. The horses were in good form coming over and ran well.

“This is where I want to be. I'm a winner, a born winner. I want to be on the big stage. I give all the horses a chance to be good. I knew coming here, when the rain came this morning, I knew she had a big chance.

“We have had a few fillies like that, when they start improving you don't know where they're going to go, so it's hugely satisfying. It's a racing club. A lot of people are going to get a lot of pleasure out of this. It means the world to us," he added