RACING:JOHNNY MURTAGH travels to France tomorrow hoping for a change of luck aboard the English -trained Frederick Engels when the colt lines up for the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville.
The top Irish jockey was convinced Frederick Engels would have won the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh a couple of weeks ago but the colt was badly interfered with by Parish Hall at a crucial stage of the race.
The partnership are on a retrieval mission in tomorrow’s €300,000 highlight when they face seven opponents including Mick Channon’s Gatepost who also ran in that Phoenix Stakes.
Murtagh knows what it takes to win the six furlong event having scored on David Wachman’s Bushranger in 2008 and also knows how to win on Frederick Engels having won the Windsor Castle Stakes on him at Royal Ascot in June.
Murtagh will also be in action in the Group Two Prix Kergorlay when he rides the Longchamp Group Three winner Dunaden for Mikael Delzangles. This race also sees the Melbourne Cup winner Americain appearing, along with the English hopes Jukebox Jury and Manighar.
There was controversy though yesterday when the multiple Group One winner Snow Fairy was denied a place in the Prix Jean Romanet due to an obscure technicality referring to horses not running having been declared a non-runner in an another race within a certain time period.
“It’s extremely annoying. We weren’t made aware of the rule,” trainer Ed Dunlop said.
“Having watched the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday I was thrilled I didn’t run her because of the ground. It was a real stamina slog. This race was over 10 furlongs for fillies and was recently upgraded to Group One. There are no other races like that left in the calendar. I’m very disappointed for the filly.”
He added: “We believe a French trainer has complained about what we have done. The law is there, but we weren’t aware of it and weren’t told of it at declaration time.”
Just five runners line up for the Romanet now including Henry Cecil’s Falmouth Stakes winner, Timepiece.
The home action in Ireland tomorrow takes place at Ballinrobe where Garryowen Oscar can make a winning first start in a handicap in the two and a half mile hurdle.
Charlie Swan’s runner easily scored a maiden success at Sligo earlier this month in a fashion that suggests he can defy topweight today.
