ENGLISH TEXTS
for a pattern to the operation’ s purchases it is striking that it buys at every level of the market except the very top, the most expensive buy to date, who has already been culled, was La Berma for 350.000 guineas in 2019, while the cheapest was Brandywine bought for € 28,000 last year. The buys include tough racemares like Raven’ s Lady, the winner of 7 of her 23 starts from two to five, and well-bred unraced fillies like Hardiyna. Whatever the strategy is, it is working, and it will give the operation’ s stallions, beginning with Big Rock, every chance of succeeding in the future.
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TRAINER
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By Emmanuel Rivron
AMY MURPHY’ S CHALLENGE
Having made a name for herself several times in France over the past few years, Amy Murphy decided to give her young career a new twist by relocating permanently to France this past February. Always up for a challenge, the young British trainer and her horses have apparently settled in quickly!
Now based in the former yard of Myriam Bollack-Badel, Amy Murphy has wasted no time in finding her footing. Wasting time, in fact, is not at all in the nature of this Midlands-born trainer. She was riding horses at 3, an assistant at 19, and the youngest licensed trainer in the UK by 24. A graduate in equine science from Hartpury University near Gloucester- a rugby stronghold-she’ s now determined to“ convert the try” in France, a country she became familiar with early on:“ I discovered French racing through my first employer, Tom Dascombe,” she says in English.“ I managed his satellite yard one summer in Deauville.” That was followed by a six-month stint in Australia with Gai Waterhouse, where she worked with Group-winning mare Sweet Idea, and then a valuable experience with Luca Cumani.
Chantilly Felt Like the Obvious Choice As assistant trainer and regular morning rider of Postponed, she traveled the top racetracks— from Ascot to Meydan via Longchamp, where her morning mount won the Group 2 Prix Foy. Group success came quickly in her second season as a trainer:“ Kalashnikov gave us a Group 1 win at Aintree as a novice. It was the best day of my career because my father had bought him as a foal!” Things were going well in the UK, but Amy’ s attraction to France grew stronger.“ The French lifestyle and the race prize money had already motivated me to set up a satellite yard in Lamorlaye three years ago. I also made several trips back and forth last season. To settle in France long-term, I did an internship from October to December last year. It was very challenging, but I passed the exam!” Chantilly, with its elite facilities, felt like the natural choice:“ I was used to the Newmarket setup and needed that kind of environment to succeed. I’ m young and ambitious! Six of my ten staff members followed me on this journey. We’ ve only been here since February, but so far, so good.”
Backed by French Owners Always popular in 2-year-old races, Amy Murphy won six races in France last season, all with juveniles:“ But I’ m not just a 2-year-old trainer, let’ s be clear!” she insists.“ I need to shed that label. I’ ve prepared Listed winners over more than 2,000 meters and even trained a Group 1 winner over the jumps. In fact, my first winner this year was an 8-year-old!” That horse, Pride of America, the elder statesman of her 30-horse string, is a source of pride for Amy and sets the tone for the younger generation, some of whom now run in the silks of French owners:“ I’ m very lucky. Gérard Augustin-Normand, Gousserie Racing, and Guy Pariente have all entrusted me with horses. I have high hopes for Nyoka, who won at the end
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