Murtagh enjoys Fame and Glory

When Horseracing Ireland chose Johnny Murtagh as its summer racing ambassador earlier this year, neither they nor the Bohermeen jockey could have foreseen the successful season he was facing into, even with the famed Ballydoyle machine behind him. On Sunday, Murtagh powered home on Fame and Glory to take the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh, claiming his third major classic of the season. At the Curragh in May, Murtagh partnered David Wachman"s Again to win the 1,000 Guineas, and Aidan O"Brien"s Mastercraftsman to take the 2,000 Guineas. His win for O"Brien on Sunday ensures the trainer a place in the record books with seven wins, breaking the record of his namesake, the late, great Vincent O"Brien, who won six Irish Derbies. The late withdrawal of John Oxx"s Epsom Derby winner Sea the Stars from the starting line-up resulted in the Epsom second-placed Fame and Glory installed as 8-11 favourite. He picked up stablemate Golden Sword, who had been ridden clear into the straight, well over a furlong out, and quickly seized control of the race, winning by five lengths. 'He"s improved quite a lot since Epsom and was very sharp and on the ball today,' Murtagh said afterwards. 'When I asked him to go after the leaders he immediately came on the bridle and did the job very easily.' It was Murtagh"s third Irish Derby win, following Sinndar in 2000 and Alamshar in 2003, and he was still basking in the recent success of Ascot, where he partnered Yeats to a historic fourth win in the Gold Cup. Also on Derby Day at the Curragh, Athboy-native Curragh-based trainer Frank Oakes saw Mountain Coral win his sixth race on the Flat in seven outings this year when he won the valuable Dubai Duty Free Surprise Scurry Handicap, with Niall McCullagh on board, at 8/1. Murtagh was successful on Alfred Nobel for O"Brien in the Group 2 Netjets Railway Stakes (6/4 fav), and Declan McDonogh finished off the evening with a win on Truckers Delight, 3/1 favourite in the Failte Ireland EBF Handicap, repeating his Saturday evening performance on 10/1 Kevin Prendergast runner Glebe Queen in the closing race. The two Meathmen had plenty of success at the opening day of the Derby Festival on Friday, with McDonogh winning the opening Kildare Village EBF Maiden on Norman Ormiston"s Kingsfort (10-3) for Prendergast, and Murtagh first past the post on O"Brien"s Cabaret (5/4f) in the Fillies" Maiden, and Von Jawlensky in the closing race. Also on Friday evening, Dunboyne"s Padraig Beggy scored on Mrs Alan Dargan"s 14/1 runner, Ballivor, in the Silken Thomas Handicap, for WT Farrell. The previous evening, Thursday, saw the Ger Lyons-trained Rain Delayed under Keagan Latham, and Joanna Morgan"s Morrigan, with Pat Smullen on board, record successes at Tipperary, while Pat Martin enjoyed wins at Sligo on Tuesday, with Irish Poli, and Naas on Wednesday, with Kaitlins Joy. A young Dunshaughlin rider enjoyed the first win of what will hopefully be many more in her career. Gina Mangan from Thomastown partnered Salazaar to win in Roscommon for her boss, Frank Ennis of the Curragh. The 17 year-old daughter of Paddy and Tricia Mangan has had 13 rides with five seconds, including four on the new track at Dundalk, three with Salazaar, as well as one at Naas. Meanwhile, another promising young Dunshaughlin jockey, this time on the pony racing circuit, Keith Donoghue, has been enjoying considerable success of late. The reigning northern circuit champion rider had a treble at the opening day of the recent Castleisland Horse and Pony Racing meeting in Kerry, all for Dave Barry, on Miss Wonderful, The Boodyman and The Russian, and the following day had another treble at Big Isle, Co Donegal, where he was defending his title, on Man about Town, What Do You Think and Over The Border.