Irish apprentice on loan to Danny O'Brien

Promising Irish apprentice Oisin Murphy is spending the next two months with Danny O’Brien.

Murphy, 18, had his first Australian rides yesterday for O’Brien at Kyneton and he’ll ride Eraset and Keep Cool for him at tomorrow’s Flemington meeting.

O’Brien said UK trainer Andrew Balding approached him during the VRC spring carnival about Murphy, who finished second on the UK premiership this year in what was his first season, spending time in Melbourne.

He said he had spent time staying with Balding, who prepared Side Glance to win last month’s Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes, when he’d travelled horses to England.

“Andrew wanted to get Oisin down to Melbourne for December and January to give him a bit of experience during the winter in Europe,” O’Brien said.

“He’s had a very good start to his apprenticeship in the UK. He’s ridden 40 winners from his first 200-odd rides.

“The wraps on him are pretty good. He’s been here three weeks and you can see he rides well and we’re looking to give him some rides.”

Murphy rode four winners on an Ayr program in September, including Highland Colori for Balding in the Ayr Cup.

Story by Adrian Dunn, to view full Racing Network story click here