NEWS
Murtagh guides Bushranger to Prix Morny win
Posted: Sunday, August 24, 2008 3:29 PM
BUSHRANGER AND MURTAGH CHARGE TO VICTORY AT DEAUVILLE
Racing Post photo
by Desmond Stoneham
Johnny Murtagh guided Bushranger to victory in the $517,090 Darley Prix Morny (Fr-G1) on Sunday at Deauville to land his 17th Group 1 win of the season.
Murtagh, who earned his first victory in the Prix Morny, produced the Danetime colt for a beautifully timed late run to prevail in 1:09.90 for 1,200 meters (5.97 furlongs) on turf rated as good. The winning time equaled the stakes record set by Seven Springs in 1984.
“We knew he was very good as he showed us he was very good with his last run in the [Independent Waterford Wedgwood] Phoenix Stakes (Ire-G1) and today he was given a very good ride,” said winning trainer David Wachman, who conditions Bushranger for owners Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Michael Tabor.
“The colt is very versatile and battled well. He is in all the top races, and I want to see how he comes out of this race before making any other plans.”
Bushranger steadily reeled in runner-up Gallagher in the final 200 meters and edged away from that foe to win by a half-length.
“I tracked Gallagher from one and a half [furlongs] out and he quickened to go a length up,” Murtagh said. “My colt then went on bravely to take the advantage 75 yards out.”
For the second straight year, Coolmore won the Prix Morny with a horse not trained by Aidan O’Brian. Tommy Stack saddled Myboycharlie (Ire) to win a year ago for Coolmoore, which has won the race five times in the previous 11 years. Other Coolmore winners were Johannesburg (2001), Fasliyev (1999), and Orpen (‘98).
The Prix Morny really began to warm up with about 600 meters remaining when Lord Shanakill took command ahead of Gallagher. Gallagher appeared poised to prevail with 200 meters remaining but he was being tracked by Bushranger, who made his winning move at the right time.
“I really thought we had won,” said Brian Meehan, who trains Gallagher. “He is improving all the time and we will now aim at the [Dubai Duty Free] Middle Park Stakes (Eng-G1) with a run before in the [Shadwell] Mill Reef Stakes (Eng-G1).”
Bushranger paid a great compliment to the Coolmore-owned Mastercraftsman, who defeated Bushranger by five lengths while winning in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on July 27.
Desmond Stoneham writes for Racing Post and is a France-based Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
