Three-time British champion keen to get more experience riding on dirt during winter stint at Florida venue, which kicks off on Thursday [Dec 28]
Star international jockey Oisin Murphy will begin riding at Gulfstream Park on Thursday [Dec 28] with a primary goal.
“I know that one third of the races are on dirt – and I really want to get some experience on dirt,” said the three-time British champion jockey.
“I want to ride against the best riders in the US. Many of them are at Gulfstream – the Ortiz brothers, John Velazquez and others. I’d like to be there in the morning for trackwork and hopefully do well in the afternoon.”
A secondary goal is to have a mount in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on January 27 on Gulfstream’s dirt track. “I would love to get on something with a chance in a race like that. I know every big rider wants to be in that race,” Murphy said after arriving in Miami on a flight from New York Wednesday afternoon.
Murphy, 28, is scheduled to make Gulfstream his base through January. He has been named to ride Christophe Clement-trained Streamsong, a debuting son of Omaha Beach, in Thursday’s Race 9, a mile-and-70-yard maiden special weight race for two-year-olds on Tapeta.
Murphy was born in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland into a racing family and moved to England at the age of 17 in 2013 before becoming champion apprentice the following year. British champion jockey in 2019, 2020 and 2021, he has won G1s in Britain, Ireland, Japan, UAE, Germany, Canada, France and the US.
“I grew up watching all the big races on television and I always wanted to be a part of that,” he said. “Then to be able to ride in the Breeders’ Cup, other big days in the US, the Dubai World Cup, the big days in Europe … it reminds me how fortunate I am to be able to ride good horses around the world.”
Among his career highlights was riding Roaring Lion to G1 victories in the Eclipse, Juddmonte International and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in England, plus the Irish Champion Stakes in 2018.
“When Roaring Lion came along, I became more regular in the big races,” Murphy explained. “He was the champion turf horse in Europe. I had a lot of fun riding him.”
Murphy is no stranger to G1 success in North America, having won four races at the top level aboard Mawj (2023 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup), Aspen Grove (2023 Belmont Oaks), Marche Lorraine (2021 Breeders’ Cup Distaff) and Blond Me (2017 EP Taylor). His most memorable victory came aboard Japanese-trained Marche Lorraine at Del Mar.
“I got a lot of credit for my ride and it was a very proud moment,” he explained. “For a European rider to win a Grade 1 on dirt is a massive thing. I’m very proud of that achievement.”
Murphy is named on two horses for Friday’s card and five horses Saturday, including Marwad in the $200,000 Ft. Lauderdale. He is slated to ride two horses on Sunday, including Isabel Alexandra in the $100,000 Abundantia, and three on New Year’s Day.
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