Name: Oisin Murphy
Age: 25
Career highlight: Winning the Champion Flat Jockey title in 2019.
Interesting fact: Oisin is a fan of poetry, citing Sylvia Plath as his favourite poet.
As the nephew of three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winning rider Jim Culloty, Oisin was always destined for the saddle. Nevertheless, his rise to the top of the sport has been rapid.
Oisin Murphy’s journey in life began in difficult circumstances, but a career in racing was never in doubt🏇
— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) October 10, 2019
In part 1 Francesca Cumani learns about @OisMurphy’s early life, and how it shaped him into a future Champion Jockey🏆 pic.twitter.com/to6al09ShJ
As an 18-year-old in 2013, Oisin Murphy joined the renowned jockey academy at trainer Andrew Balding’s yard. He was quick to make an impression after being granted his first handful of rides in public, landing four winners on Ayr Gold Cup day in September of that year. He won his first Group race the following May and by October 2014 had been crowned Champion Apprentice Jockey.
In 2016, Oisin was headhunted by the powerful Qatar Racing, and was employed on a retainer contract. He has never looked back.
Oisin enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2018, riding no fewer than nine Group 1 triumphs including four on Qatar Racing’s European Horse of the Year, Roaring Lion.
Oisin has spent his fair share of time learning from his international counterparts over the British winters. He spent the 2013/2014 winter in Australia and, more recently, has established close ties with trainers and owners in Japan, where he has ridden over the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 winters. He has also enjoyed stints riding in Hong Kong.
Congratulations @oismurphy - Champion Jockey 2019 🏆
— Great British Racing (@GBRacing) October 18, 2019
Incredibly consistent, Group 1 winner and become an even more accomplished jockey - what a season!
You can see Oisin get crowned 👑 at #ChampionsDay pic.twitter.com/Gnv9yJWCuE
When Oisin won the title of Champion Jockey in 2019 with a huge 168 winners for the season, he became the youngest jockey since Ryan Moore to lift the prestigious trophy. Oisin then defended his Champion Flat Jockey title with 142 winners holding off William Buick who was only nine away.
The top jockey has over 1,000 winners in his career to date.
More From Great British Racing
Willie Mullins’ Route To Second Consecutive Trainers Title
It seemed like the Irish champion needed a near-miracle to retain the British crown he won for the first time 12 months ago. But miracles are Willie’s stock-in-trade. He won the meeting’s...
Skelton Leads as Finale to Titanic Trainers Title Tussle Nears
With more than £3.4m in prize money up for grabs, the three-day meeting at the iconic Liverpool course will be pivotal and there are sure to be significant swings in the title...
What’s on in April?
With Aintree’s three-day Randox Grand National meeting dominating the early days and Flat racing’s future stars testing their Group 1 credentials, this month’s racing is not to be missed. Here’s a look...
