Oisin Murphy back in the big time with victory in 1000 Guineas on Mawj
- Planet Sport writer
- 7 May 2023
Oisin Murphy thanked the connections of Mawj after claiming a thrilling 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, edging out Tahiyra in the closing stages.
Saeed bin Suroor and Oisin Murphy claimed the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket with Mawj.
Sent off at 9/1 having completed her preparations in Dubai, she fought out a titanic battle with race favourite Tahiyra in the closing stages.
It was a second Classic success for Murphy, while it was a return to the big-race winner's enclosure for the popular Bin Suroor whose last Classic victory came in the 2009 St Leger.
The 9/1 winner had to do the hard work on the near side as the 20-strong field split into two groups - and it always looked like being a two-horse battle from the dip.
Tahiyra fell out of the stalls, but made silky-smooth headway under Chris Hayes and the Dermot Weld-trained filly looked the most likely winner a furlong out.
However, on her first start of the season, the Moyglare winner - sent off the 6/4 market leader - just lost out to the battle-hardened Mawj, who had twice won in Meydan over the winter.
The pair were seven and a half lengths clear of Kieran Cotter's Matilda Picotte, who had helped the set the pace on the far-side group and stuck to her guns gallantly. Caernarfon was fourth at 50/1 for Jack Channonn.
It was a welcome return to the big-race winner's enclosure for Bin Suroor and his third success in the race following Cape Verdi (1998) and Kazzia (2002), while it was Murphy's second Classic after Kameko's 2000 Guineas win in 2020.
Murphy told ITV Racing: "She's a champion and thanks very much to Saeed and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for giving me the opportunity.
"It's massive, these Group Ones are what it is all about and to win the Qipco 1000 Guineas is very, very special.
"She is very tough and she relaxed great, it was a brilliant training performance.
"He (Bin Suroor) has been exceptional and so good to me for 10 years and given me lots of superstar horses like Benbatl and this one who is terrific."
The former champion, who has returned this season after completing a 14-month riding ban, added: "I was second in the race yesterday (2000 Guineas) and to win it is unbelievable. Thank you to the trainer and his staff, they did all the hard work."
