CHAMPION jockey Oisin Murphy doubts he will go for broke to retain his crown in 2025 with a desire for class over quantity.
With bad weather causing chaos to jumps racing, this is the perfect moment to ponder who will dominate the Flat scene this term.
GettyIt will be quantity over quality for champion jockey Oisin Murphy when the new Flat season kicks off[/caption]
Murphy was clear of his rivals in 2024, ending up with 163 winners, 53 more than nearest rival Rossa Ryan (110) and 59 ahead of third-placed Tom Marquand (104).
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Young star Billy Loughnane ended up with 97.
It meant Murphy has now been top dog in four out of the last six years, with William Buick taking the title in 2023 and 2022.
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Such was Murphy’s dominance last year even if he does change tack it might be possible for him to be champion again, but the Kerry native is not so sure.
Speaking from South Africa, where he has just landed a first success in the country aboard the Justin Snaith-trained Sail The Seas, Murphy told me: “I doubt I will be in the running to be the champion jockey in 2025.
“It’s unlikely I will be riding every day in the UK when I could go to France, for example, to ride in a Group 3 or something.
“I will aim to focus on trying to ride good horses and manage my workload well so I can get through the whole year riding at a high level.
“I think that’s what I need to do. You can never control periods where you are going to be riding really well, and periods where maybe you are not at the top of your game. But with the workload I have it’s important I have to be at the top as regularly as possible.
“I want to ride at a high level. The championship has been very important to me for the last few years but it’s probably not as much as a priority this time around.”
Murphy continued: “Obviously I need the horses to do ride in all the biggest races, but I’m excited for the young horses coming through.
“They include New Century, a Grade 1 winner in Canada and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
“There are plenty of novice winners who need to step up and improve but with luck they will do that.
“Also still around will be the likes of Tamfana and Giavellotto, who won the Hong Kong Vase last month.
“The Foxes also ran very well in Hong Kong and his owner King Power have been very good supporters of mine.
“I also feel I have the chance to ride lots of nice Juddmonte horses and I want to keep that partnership intact.”
As for who might be in a position to take Murphy’s crown, he added: “The British weighing room is very competitive.
“Sean Levey is a top class rider, Rossa Ryan and Tom Marquand are brilliant too. They could all be champion.
“I don’t know what William Buick’s intentions are, but we all know he’s outstanding, as is James Doyle.
“And there are young guys coming through like Billy Loughnane and David Egan. Jason Watson is also good and Danny Tudhope will have lots of winners up North.”
Murphy missed out on two huge successes last term due to various agreements he has, namely when Tamfana landed the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes and Kalpana the Group 1 British Champions Fillies and Mares at Ascot.
“My retainer with Sheikh Fahad will continue and I hope my relationship with Andrew Balding will be the same,” he added.
“I hope I will continue to be one of Andrew’s main riders.
Obviously David Probert, Jason Watson and Callum Hutchinson and all the regulars will be riding for him as well.
“I have a very good link up with Saeed bin Suroor, Hugo Palmer and Harry Charlton. Rod Millman has also been a supporter.
“Because of connections, with David Howden and Running Lion and Bjorn Nielson, I also get rides from John and Thady Gosden.
“Tamfana is trained by David Menuisier who is good to me.”
Balding confirmed his desire to use Murphy when he can.
The Classic-winning handler said: “It’s a gentleman’s agreement with Oisin and I hope he wants to ride for us and we have enough good horses for him. We are very lucky and have access to a lot of very good jockeys.
“New Century is an obvious candidate for the 2,000 Guineas. He’s a horse we think highly of and that’s the plan.”
Both New Century and a New Year promise much for Murphy.
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