Racing: Johnny Murtagh has been retained to ride all of the Aga Khan's Irish-trained horses in 2011. The jockey resigned from his post as stable jockey to Coolmore last week and has quickly been snapped up by the leading owner.
"I am thrilled to be renewing my association with His Highness' horses in Ireland," Murtagh said in a statement. "We have shared some fantastic moments over the years and I have always enjoyed riding in the green and red colours.
"This will also give me an opportunity to ride for John Oxx again. I started off riding for Mr Oxx and it has always been a pleasure to be part of his Currabeg team."
Murtagh won the Epsom Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sinndar for Oxx and the Aga Khan back in 2000. The Aga Khan currently has 90 horses in training with John Oxx in Ireland, with Mick Halford training 30.
Murtagh was stable jockey to Oxx from 1992-2003, during which time he rode 18 Group One winners for the Aga Khan. The jockey was on board Sinndar when he won the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2000, while he also partnered the likes of Alamshar, Kalanisi and Daliapour to big-race successes.
"I am delighted to have secured a world-class jockey like Johnny Murtagh as my retained rider in Ireland," said the Aga Khan. "We have had some wonderful days in the past and we look forward to renewing our successful association. I believe it is vital to the continued success of my bloodstock operation to have a retained jockey in the countries where my horses are trained.
"This has been the situation in France for many years and I am most pleased now to have a similar arrangement in Ireland."
Murtagh's victory on Recital in Saturday's Criterium de Saint-Cloud looks likely to be Murtagh's final success as retained jockey for the Coolmore operation. Christophe Lemaire is the retained rider for the owner's French-trained horses and recently signed a two-year contract running from 2011-2012.
Murtagh's appointment would appear a big blow to Fran Berry, who was appointed as Oxx's stable jockey at the start of this year.
The owner's website read: "The Aga Khan Studs would like to thank Fran for the many winners he has ridden in the Aga Khan's colours and, if the opportunity arises, he will be called upon to ride the Aga Khan Irish-trained horses in the future."
The Aga Khan's stud farm manager Pat Downes added: "Johnny obviously became available and we have always had a retained rider in France.
"His Highness has never had a retained rider in Ireland and he and Johnny have had some very good days in the past. His Highness saw an opportunity to renew that partnership and that has been sorted in the last 48 hours. Fran Berry is a very good rider and has done great for us, but he doesn't yet have the international experience of Johnny, who is a world-class jockey.
"Hopefully this is the start of another great chapter for Johnny and His Highness together."