MURTAGH ABOARD AGA KHAN's KALANISI
Coady photography
After splitting with trainer Aidan O’Brien last week, Johnny
Murtagh has landed the Aga Khan’s Irish stable jockey position for 2011.
Murtagh
rode for the Aga Khan frequently as trainer John Oxx’s number one
jockey from 1992 to 2003. He registered 18 Group 1 or Grade 1 wins for
the Aga Khan, including the 2000 Epsom Derby (Eng-G1), Irish Derby
(Ire-G1), and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) with Sinndar and 2000
Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) with Kalanisi (Ire).
In Ireland, the Aga Khan has 90 horses in training with Oxx and 30 with Mick Halford.
“We
have had some wonderful days in the past, and we look forward to
renewing our successful association,” the Aga Khan said. “I believe it
is vital to the continued success of my bloodstock operation to have a
retained jockey in the countries where my horses are trained. This has
been the situation in France for many years and I am most pleased now to
have a similar arrangement in Ireland.”
Christophe Lemaire, the Aga Khan’s retained jockey in France, recently signed a two-year contract through 2012.
Fran Berry rode many of the Aga Khan’s Irish runners in 2010 as Oxx’s stable jockey after succeeding Mick Kinane.
O’Brien and owners John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith have not tapped a replacement for Murtagh.
