Decircles brings up double for Murphy-O'Brien
Oisin Murphy wasn’t able to score aboard what he considered his best for the day, but he got the money on his only other two rides for the day.
The Irish apprentice, who is on loan to Flemington horseman Danny O’Brien, rounded out the card with victory aboard Decircles having earlier scored aboard Eraset.
Both winners were prepared by O’Brien, who also puts the polish on Thorn Star, who Murphy partnered into sixth position at his first ride for the day.
“I had a lovely book of rides coming into today, I probably thought Thorn Star in the second race was my best chance but unfortunately things didn’t go to plan,” he said.
“But I have to really thank Danny, he’s been giving me loads of opportunities.”
Today’s winners doubled Murphy’s metropolitan winners’ tally since breaking through for his maiden Melbourne success aboard Settlers Way at Moonee Valley on 28 December.
He has ridden a further five provincial winners and 29 of his 51 rides in Australia have finished in the first three.
Murphy got Decircles home at his first run beyond 1200m since the 2012 Australian Guineas (1600m) when produced a well-rated front-running effort.
They combined for a 1-1/4-length win over $2.25 favourite Mandla with Finishing Card a long neck away third.
The Decircles victory followed a drought-breaking win aboard Eraset in the $100,000 Craftsman Handicap (1720m).
The seven-year-old son of Reset snapped a 15-race run of outs, which stretched back to June 2012, with his deserved victory.
The gelding went one better than the previous week’s second placing to Amaethon with a 1-1/4-lenth win over the promising Prince of Penzance and Chris Waller-trained import He’s Your Man.
Murphy’s double completed a stellar day for apprentice riders, who partnered half the winners on the Flemington card.
Prior to his win on Eraset, Harry Coffey registered his maiden Flemington win aboard the Darren Weir-trained Flying Hostess, while Katelyn Mallyon continued her stellar run for Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra with victory aboard Whistle Baby.
Story by Brad Bishop, to view full Racing Victoria story click here
Photo by Bruno Cannatelli, to view Bruno's website click here