Oisin Murphy redemption tour goes global as the jockey heads to Saudi Cup after 14-month booze and Covid ban
DAYS like this are the ones that Oisin Murphy has Missed the most.
Mind you, which jockey wouldn’t want to ride on a glitzy, international card in the Middle East with £29 million smackers on offer?
After 14 months away, he is back on the world stage with a massive ride on Missed The Cut in the Neom Turf Cup.
But forget the prize-money - this is the first stop on Murphy’s global redemption tour.
His reputation has taken an absolute kicking over the past couple of years, and not just in the UK.
He was the darling of Japanese racing for a while, providing them with epic victories at the Breeders’ Cup and Glorious Goodwood.
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There are 20 runners from Japan on the Saudi Cup card and it’s dollars to donuts he would have picked up a few of them pre-suspension.
If you needed reminding, he was banned for a number of failed alcohol breath tests and for a serious breach of Covid-19 protocols.
But he arguably reached his lowest point in October 2021 when he was involved in a drunken scrap with a bloodstock agent in a Newmarket pub.
He has had more than enough time to reflect on his actions and he has made all the right noises since returning to the saddle.
And, encouragingly, it looks like he is free of his demons for the first time in a number of years.
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He said: "I made many, many errors. I was given a period of time to think about that and come back with a different mindset.
"Hopefully in the next year and following years, I can prove to be the person I'd like to be."
He will have to complete regular testing for booze and drugs over the next 12 months - so for his sake and the sake of the sport let’s hope he stays on the straight and narrow.
There won’t be any need for that in dry-as-a-bone Saudi Arabia, so if Missed The Cut can win again Murphy and trainer George Boughey will have to toast his success over a glass of sparkling water.
As a £40,000 buy - a snip in this day and age - he has been a real success story, with four wins to his name including a victory at Royal Ascot.
He was a sought-after ride, with Ryan Moore originally in pole position.
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But baby-faced Boughey offered the opportunity to Murphy who snapped it up with both hands.
The trainer said: “Oisin has only ridden one winner for me, but he’s obviously a fantastic rider and I’m delighted to have him on board.
“I wanted someone to create a bond with the horse. He’s done plenty of work on him.
“He went to Chelmsford to ride him the other morning and he’s delighted with him, so it’s all systems go.
“He’s been in great shape and seeing his form get franked on the world stage just confirmed what he’s been showing us for a while. We’re very excited to see him out in Saudi in a few weeks.
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“He’s a horse that was sold out of Shadwell dispersal sale. He was just a standout physically from the get-go. He’s still a big baby. He’s only run six times.
“We’re taking on much more experienced horses, but his work is improving at a rate of knots. He is the horse that could take us to the next level.”
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