Murphy ends 12-year wait for four-year-old winner

Willie Murphy welcomed his first four-year-old winner in almost 12 years when the smart-looking Snow Is In The Sky captured the four-year-old mares’ maiden at Turtulla, giving the Carlow handler his first winner in that division since Velocity Boy scored back in December 2013.

Murphy was the first to acknowledge how significant the result was.

 

“That’s a long time since we had a four-year-old winner,” he said. “I actually thought it was fifteen years!”

The gap is easily explained. Murphy rarely trains or sources four-year-old types, instead preferring to give his horses more time.

 

“We don’t have the calibre of horse that’s ready to go early,” he said. “We’re a bit old-fashioned and like to give them more time.

"Since Velocity Boy I’d say we’ve only had four or five runners in four-year-old races. We’ve always trained more five- and six-year-olds.”

 

Snow Is In The Sky looks above the ordinary and her profile fits with the yard’s previous graduates.

 

“All our four-year-old winners have been good horses. They were all in the 120s or 130s. So for her to win a four-year-old for us, she must be good.

"She’ll head to the sales. She’s owned by a syndicate of lads from Roscommon and being by Snow Sky, that’s a double win for us.”

 

Snow Sky stands at Murphy’s Ballycurragh Stud alongside Flag Of Honour, which is operated by Murphy, his brother Jim, and his wife Moira. Their homebred stallion team is steadily gaining traction.

 

“Flag Of Honour is still there. He hasn’t had his winner yet, but near enough everything by him has been placed. Snow Sky has had a few good ones this season already.”

 

Ballycurragh Stud keeps Murphy busy once the point-to-point season eases off, but the balance has always worked for the family.

 

“The points are winter and spring. When the ground dries up, things get quieter with the horses and then the stud season kicks off. We’re kept busy, but it works.”

 

Boley Bob, another by Snow Sky, provided Murphy with his first win of the campaign at Curraghmore back in October when landing the winner of one by a comfortable five lengths in the hands of Patrick Gleeson.

 

“He’s a good horse. He’s only a five-year-old and there’s more improvement in him.”

 

Murphy has made a solid start overall, with two winners from a small early-season team and almost everything running well.

 

“They’re in good form at the minute, touch wood. Most of them have been placed and run well. We’ve a grand bunch of horses – probably the best mix we’ve had in a while. We’ve a few nice three-year-olds, four-year-olds and older horses.”

 

Around 20 horses are in work at present, and Murphy is supported by a strong team on the ground.

 

“We’re blessed with the riders we have. Pa King is there, and we have a couple of very good young lads. Patrick Gleeson comes one day a week and I think he’s the best novice rider in the country. Andrew Kennedy and Eoin Cloke are both very good to school, and Ryan Treacy comes in one day a week.

"My brother Jim is there, and Moira rides work and looks after the veterinary side. We have Mark Farrell and I still ride out the quiet ones myself too.”

 

Moira, a former point-to-point rider who shared the shortened 2019/20 Ladies Championship with Maxine O’Sullivan and Liz Lalor, now works with the IHRB.

 

“She takes blood from winners instead of riding them,” Willie laughed. “She’d love to still be out there riding but she enjoys the job.”

 

With a decent team behind him and a promising group of horses, Murphy is looking ahead with quiet optimism.

 

“We’ll try and keep the horses healthy and win what we can. It’s a long season but we’re happy with how things are going. We might have a few more four-year-olds out in the spring, hopefully.”

 

Snow Is In The Sky’s success may have ended a 12-year wait, but it also hinted at a yard operating with renewed depth and quality.