Murphy says Lion can roar to Classic glory

OISIN MURPHY believes Roaring Lion has the credentials for Classic glory.
Oisin Murphy and Roaring Lion won the Dante Stakes this week.Oisin Murphy and Roaring Lion won the Dante Stakes this week.
Oisin Murphy and Roaring Lion won the Dante Stakes this week.

The jockey was reflecting on the horse’s emphatic win 24 hours earlier in York’s Dante Stakes in which he surged clear of his rivals in sensational style.

He declined to be drawn on whether the John Gosden-trained colt will head to Epsom and take on Saxon Warrior in the Derby – or line up in the French equivalent, the Prix du Jockey Club, at Chantilly.

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Though the Epsom race is the ultimate test of a thoroughbred over a mile and a half, Gosden has always maintained that Roaring Lion is a 10-furlong champion – the distance of the French Derby.

“He gave me a very good feeling and travelled through the race nicely,” Murphy told ITV Racing. “When he’s good, he’s electrifying.

“This was a proper Derby trial and he was able to show his strengths. The horse has two options – the French Derby, which is 10 furlongs, or the Investec Derby which, for many, is the most important race in the world.”

Catterick is to hold its Racing Careers Day on June 1 after last year’s inaugural event was shortlisted for a prestigious industry award.

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The track, in association with Racing to School, is offering a unique behind-the-scenes tour and workshop prior to racing for local Pony Club members and school children.

Those who have registered to take part in the workshop will be taken on a guided tour of the course visiting areas which are normally restricted to the public, including the weighing room, stables and a course walk.

The workshop will give an insight into how racing works as well as demonstrating the wider range of employment opportunities that the horse racing industry has to offer.

General manager Fiona Needham said: “We received some lovely feedback after last year’s event, so we wanted to build on that this year.”