Oisin Murphy had the winning feeling as he raced back to the big time on Qipco 1,000 Guineas heroine Mawj.
The three-time champion jockey punched the air after the filly repelled the challenge of hot favourite Tahiyra in a thrilling duel on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile.
Murphy, returning from a 14-month ban this season for alcohol and Covid breaches, said: “It’s beyond my wildest dreams. Just to get back in the big races, it’s a great feeling.
“I just realise as I get older these top-class horses are super hard to find. You’ve got to savour the moment.”
Mawj (9-1), unbeaten in Dubai this winter, forced Tahiyra to settle for second with a half-length verdict.
The top two shot seven-and-a-half lengths clear of 33-1 outsider Matilda Picotte in third. It was a similar story for winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor, last on the Classic roll of honour back in 2009, thanks to Mastery’s St Leger triumph.
Charlie Appleby has since stolen the limelight for owners Godolphin, however their longest-serving trainer had the upper hand yesterday.
“To find a good horse from a small number, you need to be lucky,” Bin Suroor said.
Murphy, second in the 2,000 Guineas on 125-1 outsider Hi Royal on Saturday, warmed up for the fillies’ Classic on Running Lion.
The impressive Howden Pretty Polly Stakes scorer is 6-1 to win the Oaks.
