By James Toney
Oisin Murphy will be the first to admit he’s been on a rollercoaster since winning the first of his British Champion Jockey titles five years ago.
Older, more mature and increasingly reflective, he will pick up his fourth career title at Ascot’s Qipco Champions Day on Saturday having watched William Buick take the honour for the past two seasons.
Murphy will come in just short of his career high 168 winners in 2019 but has enjoyed a season of remarkable consistency, first to the post a fraction better than once in five races in this flat campaign.
And while Group One success has perhaps fallen short of expectations, Murphy – who will have piloted over 1000 horses by the end of the season – is feeling positive.
“I’m 29 now and it’s been a few years since I won my last, I appreciate it a lot more and it’s been nice not to stress out in the last few weeks because I was 50 or so winners clear,” said Murphy.
“Statistically it’s my best ever year, it’s probably been my best championship. I’ve only had the three Group One winners but hopefully between now and Christmas I can add a few more.
“I got really fit at the beginning of the year, spending a month in Florida was a great decision for me, I’ve had the right team of people around me to help me when things haven’t gone so well and I’ve always kept a positive outlook.
“I’m pleased the season at nearly at an end and I’m just very fortunate to have been able to ride so many winners.
“There’s no secret other than getting to ride fast horses. You do have to stay suspension free, a short ban can really hit your chances and suddenly you’ve missed four winners. You need to get the momentum going and not dwell too much on the quiet weeks, which will happen across a season.
“Royal Ascot was great for me, it’s always a high pressure week but to have four winners was pretty special. Goodwood went really well too and so did York.
“People have short memories, you can be top of the world one minute but then you aren’t doing so well and people are getting ahead of you to get on the good horses. You have to stay focussed and I’ve learned to focus on the positives.”
Murphy is one of five Irish jockeys to have won the British Champion title after Pat Eddery, Kieren Fallon, Jamie Spencer and Richard Hughes, the legendary Eddery’s record of ten titles now surely his long-term goal.
Murphy’s route to the summit of his sport seemed written in the stars as soon as he arrived, born 13 weeks prematurely in Killarney, Ireland.
His mother Maria believes he developed his fighting instincts from these early days, while his passion for horses was honed riding on his grandfather’s knee while he watched racing on television.
Murphy’s uncle is Jim Culloty, who famously rode Best Mate to three Gold Cups at Cheltenham and trained Lord Windermere to Grand National success.
After a promising start to his showjumping career, with his first pony still stabled at the family home, a young Oisin spent his young teenage years in Culloty’s yard, his future pre-ordained.
He spent time with trainer Tommy Stack in County Kerry and Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle before the family decision was taken to complete his apprenticeship with Andrew Balding across the Irish Sea in Newbury.
“I’ve only ever had one ambition and it was horses, ever since my first riding lesson on my fourth birthday,” said Murphy.
“The first time I rode out for my uncle, I knew I wanted to be a jockey and it is all I’ve ever wanted to do.
“When I first came to England, it was my first trip aboard on my own and l used to cry down the phone to my mother.
“This is such a tough championship to win, and I owe so much too many different people. To get that volume of winners you rely on the people you are riding for, the owners and trainers, and without them it isn’t possible.
“If you get enough chances to ride good horses, then you can get in a position to win a championship like this.”
