Oisin Murphy Prioritizes Quality Over Quantity, Aiming for Top Wins in 2025
Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy Plans to Prioritize Quality Rides Over Defending His Crown in 2025
Oisin Murphy, the reigning champion jockey, may not be chasing his crown as hard in 2025. Instead, he plans to prioritise riding top-class horses rather than competing daily.
A Shift in Priorities
Murphy dominated the 2024 Flat racing season, finishing with 163 winners—53 more than his closest rival, Rossa Ryan, and well ahead of Tom Marquand, who came third with 104 wins. This marked his fourth championship win in six years.
Despite his incredible success, Murphy believes he might not aim to be a champion jockey in 2025. Speaking from South Africa, where he recently won on Sail The Seas, he said, “I doubt I’ll be in the running for champion jockey this year. I want to focus on riding good horses and managing my workload to stay at a high level throughout the year.”
New Goals for 2025
Murphy explained that while the championship has been important in the past, it’s no longer his top priority. “I’ll still aim to ride in the biggest races, but I want to stay fresh and perform at my best,” he said.
He’s excited about the young horses coming through, including New Century, a Grade 1 winner in Canada, and Giavellotto, who recently won the Hong Kong Vase. Other promising names include Tamfana, The Foxes, and several Juddmonte horses that Murphy hopes to continue riding.
Rising Talent and Competition
Murphy acknowledged the strong competition in the British weighing room. “Riders like Sean Levey, Rossa Ryan, and Tom Marquand are all brilliant. William Buick and James Doyle are outstanding, and young talents like Billy Loughnane and David Egan are coming up fast,” he said.
He also praised his fellow riders, including Jason Watson and Danny Tudhope, as potential title challengers.
Strong Connections with Trainers and Owners
Murphy plans to maintain relationships with key trainers and owners, including Sheikh Fahad, Andrew Balding, Saeed bin Suroor, and Hugo Palmer. He also connects with John and Thady Gosden, thanks to partnerships with owners like Bjorn Nielson and David Howden.
Andrew Balding, who trains many of Murphy’s rides, confirmed, “It’s a gentleman’s agreement. We hope Oisin will keep riding for us, and we’ll continue to have good horses for him.”
A Promising Year Ahead
One of Balding’s most exciting horses for 2025 is New Century, a strong candidate for the 2,000 Guineas. With such promising rides and his focus on quality, Murphy looks set for another successful year, even if he’s not chasing the championship title.