Song team with jockey problem after Murtagh ban
Connections of Soviet Song face the prospect of finding a replacement jockey for the mare’s next race following Johnny Murtagh’s hefty ban picked up at Leopardstown.
Soviet Song, trained by James Fanshawe, is set to bid for back-to-back victories in the Matron Stakes at the same Dublin track on September 10, with Murtagh looking likely to miss out after being handed bans totalling 23 days.
“Obviously I shall have to talk it over with James but the Matron Stakes is her next race and it looks as though Johnny will miss the ride,” said Matthew Budden, racing manager to owners the Elite Racing Club. “It’s a shame because he gets on so well with her.”
Murtagh has partnered Soviet Song in her last 11 starts, which have included four Group One victories.
Only two other jockeys have ridden her in public. After Oscar Urbina had been in the plate for her first six starts, Jamie Spencer was fifth on her in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in September 2003 before Murtagh began his successful association.
However, the partnership looks to have come to a temporary halt after Murtagh was handed his ban when called before the stewards having appeared to strike Pat Smullen after passing the post in the opening race at Leopardstown yesterday.
Murtagh was aboard sixth-placed Famous Seamus in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden race, with Smullen finishing three-quarters of a length ahead in fifth on Dermot Weld’s Polished Gem.
The stewards suspended Murtagh for 21 days for improper riding, while he was also severely cautioned over his conduct towards the raceday stewards.
Murtagh’s day got worse when he picked up a further two days for careless riding after his victory on Back To Paris in the penultimate race on the card.
His ban will start on August 23 and rules him out of the ride on Vodafone Derby winner Motivator in the Irish Champion Stakes on the September 10 Leopardstown card.
Murtagh will study a film of the incident before deciding whether to appeal.
“I’ve not spoken to Johnny about it yet, but he’s due to fly in to ride at Nottingham for James Fanshawe this afternoon,” said his British agent, Dave Pollington.
