06 February 2023 , 12:47
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Oisin Murphy has snared his first big race ride ahead of his comeback from a 14-month ban after being named to partner Royal Ascot winner Missed The Cut in Saudi Arabia on February 25.
The three-time champion jockey is due to complete the suspension he received for misleading the BHA when he broke Covid rules in 2020 and failing two alcohol breath tests in 2021 next week.
One of his first big rides will be on the highly progressive Missed The Cut, who will challenge for the £1.25m Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh on February 25 for Newmarket trainer George Boughey.
Missed The Cut has won four of his six starts, including the Golden Gates Stakes at last year’s royal meeting and the Listed Churchill Stakes at Lingfield in November, beating Algiers who has since won two Group 2 races in Dubai.
“Missed The Cut has taken a lot of brain power so far in his career, he’s had a number of jockeys,” said Boughey. “I think a horse like him deserves to have a jockey that is going to try to ride him where possible.
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“I had a chat with Oisin the back end of last year when we were trying to make a plan for him. William Buick and Ryan Moore traditionally ride mine when they can but I think by their own admission they won’t be able to ride him come the summer.
“I think both were available to ride him in Saudi but that would be prolonging the inevitable and I want to someone who can create a bond with the horse. Oisin’s done plenty of work and came to Chelmsford to ride him the other morning and he’s delighted with him.
“He’s only ridden one winner for me so it’s not really a relationship that has done much so far. He’s obviously a fantastic rider and I am delighted to have him on board. There are few better men to know what a top class horse looks like than Oisin.”