HONG KONG-BOUND MURTAGH WINS SUPER JOCKEYS SERIES IN JAPAN

By Hong Kong Jockey Club | Sunday, December 4, 2011

Before taking part in the Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley this Wednesday (7 December), Irish champion jockey John Murtagh has enjoyed a sensational weekend in Japan as he won the 25th World Super Jockeys Series at Hanshin Racecourse on Sunday.

In his sixth appearance of this Japan Racing Association's jockey series, Murtagh, who sits in third position after the first day of competition, finished fifth aboard Sakura King O in the Golden Boots Trophy (turf, 2000m). He later won the fourth and final leg of the series aboard Asuka Kurichan in the Golden Whip Trophy (turf, 1600m).

With that victory, Murtagh accumulated 48 points and surpassed early leader Japanese jockey Hiroto Yoshihara (42 points) to win the series this year.

Hong Kong representative Brett Prebble finished joint 9th in the same series.

For Prebble, he rode three-year-old colt Satono Panther to a seventh placed finish in the Golden Boots Trophy, and his mount in the final leg – three-year-old colt Tatsu Mi Ryu – ran ninth in the Golden Whip Trophy.

The results gave Prebble a total of 21 points, ranking joint-9th among the 15 riders participating in the competition.

For the other two CXIJC participants on Wednesday, Japanese jockey Yuichi Fukunaga finished the series in 12th, followed by Luke Nolen from Australia in 13th.

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