With the 2011 Flat race Summer Season due to end on Sunday 6th November at Leopardstown, the battle for the Jockeys’ Championship is coming down to the wire with Johnny Murtagh leading Pat Smullen by just three winners (77 to 74). With just four race meetings and 28 races available to them both, every race will count.
Johnny Murtagh has been Champion on four occasions and has enjoyed another excellent season, with the domestic highlight being his first victory in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh on Mark Johnston’s Jukebox Jury (on whom he dead-heated for first place), while over in England he won the Epsom Oaks on the William Haggas-trained Dancing Rain and more recently, the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on the Ger Lyons-trained Lightening Pearl.
Johnny Murtagh, 4-Time Champion Jockey (77) commented: “To be Champion Jockey in Ireland means you’ve been very consistent through the year and the highlight for me would have been dead-heating in the Irish St Leger on Jukebox Jury. That was my first win in that race and now I’ve won all of the Classics in Ireland. I have a three winner lead in the championship, but I won’t take anything for granted and with four meetings left, it will be flat out from now until the very last race.”
His great rival, Pat Smullen, has won the Jockeys’ crown on six occasions including last season and once again Pat’s association with the Dermot Weld stable has brought numerous big-race successes. The highlight for him was unquestionably his win on the Weld-trained Emulous in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, while prolific winner Famous Name notched up another four victories at Listed and Group 3 level. Pat also enjoyed a fantastic Galway Festival partnering no fewer than 12 winners over the seven-day meeting which is a modern day record and he determined to fight to retain his title to the very end.
Pat Smullen, 6-Time Champion Jockey (74) said: “I’ve had a great year and the bosses horses have run consistently well for me, with the Galway Festival and the win of Emulous in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown being the obvious highlights. I’m still three winners behind Johnny and its going to be difficult to peg him back, but with all the support I have, I’ll most certainly be giving it my best shot. Never give up! If it doesn’t happen this year, we’ll have another go next year.”
Friday’s meeting at Dundalk will see the duelling jockeys clash and both have strong books of rides to look forward to. Smullen has a full book of eight rides and while all of them have solid chances, the pick of his mounts looks to be in the featured Winter Racing At Dundalk Handicap (6:55) on the Dermot Weld-trained Flic Flac While Murtagh only has seven rides on the card, he arguably has the stronger overall chances of riding winners, with the British raider Five Star Junior looking to be a leading rival to Flic Flac and the Mick Halford-trained Eastern Rules looking to have a favourites chance in the Group Bookings At Dundalk Handicap (7:55).
Last year’s Apprentice Championship produced the most exciting finish ever with the crown eventually being shared three ways by Joseph O’Brien, Gary Carroll and Ben Curtis, but this time round it doesn’t appear there will be a need for a photo-finish as Joseph O’Brien holds a massive lead over his rivals. He is currently in front by no less than 17 winners and is certain to take the crown. Joseph has had a wonderful season with his memorable victory on Roderic O’Connor in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh in May giving him his first Classic success. He also enjoyed Group 1 success on the exciting juveniles Maybe in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and Camelot in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
Joseph’s father, Aidan O’Brien, is also certain to win the Trainers’ Championship, with him currently holds a sizeable lead over his nearest rival, Dermot Weld in terms of prize money and number of winners trained. The leading Owner is currently Michael Tabor and he looks sure to see off his other Coolmore partners to take that title.
Four custom-made perpetual Irish silver trophies that have been made especially for Horse Racing Ireland will be presented to the Champions; these have been made by master craftsmen from Alwright & Marshall, Fade Street, Dublin. Each is set on a mahogany base and engraved with the names of the champion jockeys, trainers, owners and apprentices since 1950. The champions will also receive a hand-made silver tankard with a solid silver horse’s head as its handle to keep as a memento of their achievement.
Last year the Flat Championship ended on Friday 10th December in Dundalk, the Flat season has finished in December since Dundalk opened in 2007. This year the Flat finale is reverting back to its traditional conclusion when the Turf racing comes to an end in Leopardstown on Sunday 6th November 2011. The Louth venue now runs its own Winter Season with a separate Jockeys Championship which starts on Friday 11th November 2011 and runs to Friday 23rd March 2012.
