The man who rode Signora Cabello to land Phoenix Thoroughbreds first Royal Ascot winner, Oisin Murphy, will take over the reins on Loving Gaby when the star filly lines-up in the Golden Slipper.
The 23-year-old’s record at Group One level in Australia stands at two rides and two runners-up spots, Benbatl in the 2018 Cox Plate and Spirit Of Valour in the same year’s Manikato Stakes, but he has high hopes of going one better in the Country’s premier Juvenile race on board the daughter of I Am Invincible.
“She’s high-class, and I thought her run at Caulfield (in the Blue Diamond Stakes) was very good,” Murphy told Sky Sports Radio. “She was a bit green and inexperience; she actually had clear running, but she didn’t know how to take the gaps. Hopefully, she will have come on from that, and with a good draw, she can run a massive race.”
Although the multiple group-one winning rider had a very successful stint in Australia during his time as an apprentice, this will be his first time riding in Sydney and therefore his first in the Golden Slipper. But true to form he is embracing the challenge and putting in the work to make sure he can be at his best on the day.
“I ride a lot for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, who are a growing force in international racing and have a lot of horses in America, Australia but also Europe.” Said Murphy as he explained how he landed the ride. “I rode a Royal Ascot winner for them last year, and thankfully they got in touch about possibly coming over, and it has just been confirmed. It’s normal for every race that I watch videos of past renewals. I rode in my first Arc last season, and I must have watched back 20 years of the race, luckily I have plenty of free time to do some homework.”
Murphy is on somewhat of a whirlwind World tour at the moment as he looks to ride in three Countries in the space of a week, but that won’t stop him looking for additional mounts on Golden Slipper day.
“It’s a big day, and hopefully, I can pick up a few more rides but its a little up in the air.” Explained the jockey. “I have a busy schedule, I’m in Hong Kong this weekend and obviously over to Australia then to Dubai for World Cup night, so I’ll leave the details to my manager.”
Loving Gaby is scheduled to have a trial at Randwick on Thursday to tune up for the big race on 23rd March.