Johnny Murtagh (born 14 May 1970) is an Irish flat racing trainer and former jockey from Bohermeen, near Navan, Kells, County Meath. As a jockey he won many of the major flat races in Europe, including all the Irish Classics, all the Group 1 races at Royal Ascot, The Derby, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes He was a keen amateur boxer as a young boy and was once the Irish boys' under-14 champion.

Career as jockey

Murtagh rode his first winner, Chicago Style, at Limerick in 1987.

In February 2014, Murtagh announced that he would retire from riding to concentrate on his training career.

Career as trainer

Murtagh obtained his trainer's licence in 2013. In his first season he achieved a Group 2 win and two at Group 3 level, including the Blandford Stakes with Belle de Crecy and the British Champions Long Distance Cup with Royal Diamond, riding the horses himself. His first Group 1 winner as a trainer was Champers Elysees in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse in September 2020. Later that season, Sonnyboyliston provided Murtagh with his first Irish Classic win when Coen rode him to victory in the Irish St. Leger.

Personal life

He is married to Orla, daughter of famous Tipperary hurler Michael "Babs" Keating, and has five children: Caroline, Charles, Lauren, Grace, and Tom.

Major wins as a jockey

Ireland

  • Irish 1,000 Guineas – (1) – Again (2009)
  • Irish 2,000 Guineas – (3) – Black Minnaloushe (2001), Henrythenavigator (2008), Mastercraftsman (2009)
  • Irish Champion Stakes – (1) – Timarida (1996)
  • Irish Derby – (4) – Sinndar (2000), Alamshar (2003), Fame and Glory (2009), Cape Blanco (2010)
  • Irish Oaks – (6) – Ebadiyla (1997), Winona (1998), Petrushka (2000), Peeping Fawn (2007), Moonstone (2008), Chicquita (2013)
  • Irish St. Leger – (1) – Jukebox Jury (2011)
  • Matron Stakes – (3) – Timarida (1995), Soviet Song (2004), Lillie Langtry (2010)
  • Moyglare Stud Stakes – (1) – Edabiya (1998)
  • National Stakes – (3) – Manntari (1993), Sinndar (1999), Mastercraftsman (2008)
  • Phoenix Stakes – (3) – Mastercraftsman (2008), Alfred Nobel (2009), Zoffany (2010)
  • Pretty Polly Stakes – (2) – Takarouna (1993), Ambivalent (2013)
  • Tattersalls Gold Cup – (3) – Notnowcato (2007), Duke of Marmalade (2008), Fame and Glory (2010)

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Canada

  • E. P. Taylor Stakes – (2) – Choc Ice (2001), Mrs Lindsay (2007)

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France

  • Critérium International – (1) – Roderic O'Connor (2010)
  • Critérium de Saint-Cloud – (2) – Fame and Glory (2008), Recital (2010)
  • Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp – (2) – Namid (2000), Total Gallery (2009)
  • Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – (1) – Sinndar (2000)
  • Prix du Cadran – (1) – Give Notice (2002)
  • Prix de Diane – (1) – Valyra (2012)
  • Prix Ganay – (1) – Duke of Marmalade (2008)
  • Prix Marcel Boussac – (1) – Misty For Me (2010)
  • Prix Morny – (1) – Bushranger (2008)
  • Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – (1) – Ridgewood Pearl (1995)
  • Prix de l'Opéra – (2) – Timarida (1995), Petrushka (2000)
  • Prix Royal-Oak – (1) – Yeats (2008)
  • Prix Vermeille – (1) – Mrs Lindsay (2007)

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Germany

  • Bayerisches Zuchtrennen – (2) – Timarida (1996), Greek Dance (2000)

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Great Britain

  • 2,000 Guineas – (2) – Rock of Gibraltar (2002), Henrythenavigator (2008)
  • Ascot Gold Cup – (5) – Enzeli (1999), Royal Rebel (2001, 2002), Yeats (2008, 2009)
  • Champion Stakes – (1) – Kalanisi (2000)
  • Cheveley Park Stakes – (2) – Lightening Pearl (2011), Rhosdu Queen (2012)
  • Coronation Cup – (2) – Soldier of Fortune (2008), Fame and Glory (2010)
  • Coronation Stakes – (2) – Ridgewood Pearl (1995), Lillie Langtry (2010)
  • Derby – (3) – Sinndar (2000), High Chaparral (2002), Motivator (2005)
  • Eclipse Stakes – (1) – Mount Nelson (2008)
  • Falmouth Stakes – (3) – Soviet Song (2004, 2005), Simply Perfect (2007)
  • Fillies' Mile – (1) – Listen (2007)
  • Golden Jubilee Stakes – (4) – Superior Premium (2000), Choisir (2003), Soldier's Tale (2007), Starspangledbanner (2010)
  • Haydock Sprint Cup – (1) – Gordon Lord Byron (2013)
  • International Stakes – (2) – Duke of Marmalade (2008), Rip Van Winkle (2010)
  • July Cup – (2) – Frizzante (2004), Starspangledbanner (2010)
  • King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – (4) – Alamshar (2003), Dylan Thomas (2007), Duke of Marmalade (2008), Novellist (2013)
  • King's Stand Stakes – (2) – Choisir (2003), Sole Power (2013)
  • Middle Park Stakes – (1) – Bushranger (2008)
  • Nassau Stakes – (2) – Peeping Fawn (2007), Halfway to Heaven (2008)
  • Oaks – (1) – Dancing Rain (2011)
  • Prince of Wales's Stakes – (1) – Duke of Marmalade (2008)
  • Queen Anne Stakes – (2) – No Excuse Needed (2002), Haradasun (2008)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – (1) – Rip Van Winkle (2009)
  • Racing Post Trophy – (2) – Dilshaan (2000), St Nicholas Abbey (2009)
  • St. James's Palace Stakes – (3) – Black Minnaloushe (2001), Henrythenavigator (2008), Mastercraftsman (2009)
  • Sussex Stakes – (3) – Soviet Song (2004), Henrythenavigator (2008), Rip Van Winkle (2009)
  • Yorkshire Oaks – (3) – Key Change (1996), Petrushka (2000), Peeping Fawn (2007)

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Hong Kong

  • Hong Kong Vase – (1) – Daliapour (2000)

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United Arab Emirates

  • UAE 2,000 Guineas – (2) – Asiatic Boy (2007), Honour Devil (2008)
  • UAE Derby – (1) – Honour Devil (2008)

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United States

  • Beverly D. Stakes – (1) – Timarida (1996)
  • Breeders' Cup Marathon – (1) – Man of Iron (2009)
  • Breeders' Cup Mile – (1) – Ridgewood Pearl (1995)
  • Breeders' Cup Turf – (1) – Kalanisi (2000)

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Major wins as a trainer

Ireland

  • Matron Stakes – (1) – Champers Elysees (2020)
  • Irish St. Leger – (1) – Sonnyboyliston (2021)

References

  • Johnny Murtagh – NTRA
  • Horse racing: Murtagh loses his bearings amid the bacchanal