IPSWICH CUP WINNING JOCKEY MICHAEL MURPHY HAPPY TO STAY MELLOW AND NOT GET AHEAD OF HIMSELF

By Michael Murphy with Graham Potter | Friday, June 21, 2019

Michael Murphy is as laid back and modest as they come. There is no trumpeting of his achievements, no claim to bragging rights for the obstacles he has overcome and no exaggerated fuss on what might lie ahead. But, then again, when your career had a false start leading to you having to spend six months in a wheelchair, you would perhaps have a more measured perspective than most on what life offers and, in Murphy’s words, ‘be really grateful’ for the good times. Here Michael Murphy talks to HRO’s Graham Potter about all of the above.

It was great winning the Ipswich Cup. Winning feature races obviously gives me a confidence boost and that helps you to stay focussed and to get hungry for it again … but I really just try to stay as mellow as I can and not get too stressed by anything.

My family was at Ipswich which helped to make it special.

They originally came down to see my father’s mom and they left there early to come and watch me ride.

I didn’t even know they were actually going to be there so it was good to see them looking on when I went to the presentation.

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My background in racing?

Well, I was born and bred in Cairns where I went from bull-riding to racehorses. The old man used to take me to Moreeba Rodeo, they used to call it. I always thought I’d give it a go.

One day I did and I won so I just kept going until I got sick of it. I won a few titles but then I guess the adrenaline rush left.

It was amazing I got through all of time bull-riding without injury. I wasn’t so lucky when I moved into horse racing though. In fact, I was badly injured even before I got properly started.

I was just riding trackwork and it was the day before I was going to have my first-ever jump-out. We were coming back in and the horse ended up flipping over on top of me and splitting my pelvis in three places which left me in a wheelchair for six months and out of the saddle for a year.

After that, you tend to be grateful for any riding success that you have … and I am really grateful.

Any win was always going to be a long, long way away at that stage, but I never really wavered in what I wanted to do.

I really wanted to stick with it and I’m here doing it today … so, like I said, I’m grateful for that.

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I started out with Chris Munce and then I went Sydney for three months.

I was with Anthony and Edward Cummings. It was a good experience. I probably should have stayed but it was just very quiet at the time I went and I didn’t get many rides and I just wanted to ride as much as I could to gain race experience.

I came back and went to Lindsay Gough. Like all of my ex bosses Lindsay has been very good to me … and he has also become a very close friend.

Beyond the stables I’ve been attached to, a number of other trainers have given me opportunities.

I’ve got to give special mention here to Steve Tregea, not just because we won the Ipswich Cup and the Bernborough together with Bergerac, but because Steve has certainly stuck by me.

He’s been pretty solid with me and I do my best to repay him for that. Hopefully we have got many more wins to come.

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The senior jockeys have been helpful too.

At times I do ask a few of the senior jockeys about some things here and there … what they think and what I should be doing … but sometimes I just like to be a little bit independent and just try to work things out and do it myself.

I’m happy to take things day by day.

Having said that I do have a few goals that I would like to achieve. I’ve had a Group 1 ride already. I actually led that race and then finished last so there’s plenty of room for improvement there.

Although, for me at this stage, I mark up just being in a Group 1 race I as a good achievement.

I’ve got no complaints and I'm happy to take things as they come.

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