JOHN MURPHY enjoyed arguably the biggest success of his training career when the dashing grey White Birch landed the €500,000 Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday afternoon.
John, who is no stranger to the big occasion enjoyed another career highlight when Newmill won the 2006 Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
That was a particularly impressive year for the Upton trainer as Newmill also secured the Grade One Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown and the Grade Two MacLochlainn Road Markings Ltd Kinloch Brae ‘Chase at Thurles in a particularly memorable 2006.
Today’s victory lowering the colours of dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin will long linger in the memory of the Murphy’s.
White Birch was all the rage in the market.
He’d been as big as 6/1 earlier in the week and was well backed in the offices this morning from 7/2 to 15/8.
Third behind the reopposing Auguste Rodin in the Epsom Derby last year, John Murphy’s grey colt had made a whirlwind start to his four-year-old campaign.
He’d won the Group Three Alleged Stakes in April here and proved his liking for The Curragh by following up in the Mooresbridge three weeks ago.
Dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin who’d disappointed in Dubai had been as short as 4/6 this morning but ultimately was returned the 11/10 favourite.
The memory of him trailing home last in the Dubai Sheema Classic,ensured plenty of bookmakers on-course were prepared to take on Auguste Rodin.
Colin Keane settled White Birch out the back early.
Ryan Moore made his move on Auguste Rodin in the home straight, But it was quickly apparent that White Birch was cantering as Colin Keane came there on his outside with a double handful.
He powered clear to win impressively by three lengths.
The front two pulled eight lengths clear of Crypto Force who’d beaten Auguste Rodin on his juvenile debut in 2002 at this venue White Birch rapidly becoming a Curragh specialist made it three from three this season at the Kildare venue.
Jockey Colin Keane riding at the top of his game was suitably impressed.
“He cantered into it. He would have no bother going a bit further. He has matured massively from three to four.”
White Birch’s trainer Joe Murphy was understandably emotional.
“He’s a joy to have and we’re very lucky. It’s a great thrill, a really special moment.”
It had been well documented that White Birch had blown the start last season on a few occasions.
John’s son assistant trainer George Murphy acknowledged how the horse has matured from three to four.
“He’s definitely more relaxed, I suppose it’s just maturity really. He probably had a lot of experience last year, he went to lots of big occasions last year like Epsom.”
Today’s impressive victory opens up lots of options, but George refused to be drawn on future targets.
“We’ll enjoy today first and see where we go from here.”
Aidan O’Brien’s runner up lost no caste in defeat and would have been an eight length winner in White Birch’s absence.
The Ballydoyle maestro The son of Ulysses burst on the scene with a spectacular victory as a two year old at Dundalk in 2022.
That followed a promising debut at Naas.
Speculation about Royal Ascot would see the Prince of Wales’s Stakes as a target.
The International at York in August and the Irish Champion Stakes are other options.