Murphy on song
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The battle was on for the Stradbroke but Mr Baritone claimed victory
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Eighteen years ago to the day Sebastian Murphy was only a few months old when his father Gary won the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap on Plush Embassy. It was Gary’s first Group 1 and 18 years later his son Sebastian would do the same.
The young Victorian apprentice had his win aboard Mr Baritone (G6 Stravinsky-Tunisia), a $31 chance for trainer Michael Moroney who had to wait for a photo finish before celebrating the win.
Queenslander Hard to Catch (Brad Stewart) gave Mr Baritone a run for his money in the final 100 metres finishing fast on the outside to come within a half head of the win. Double Dare (Danny Nikolic) wasn’t far away in third, a further half a neck behind.
It was the fourth start for Mr Baritone in Queensland since making the trip up from Victoria for the Winter Racing Carnival and Moroney was unsure if the 1400 metre Stradbroke Handicap was the right race.
“We wondered if we had done the right thing because there were a couple of good races in Melbourne but it worked out great,” Moroney said.
In Mr Baritone’s previous three Queensland starts, his last run in the Listed Sir Edward Williams handicap 1500m a week earlier where he finished third was his best effort.
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Sebastian Murphy gives his first Group 1 on Mr Baritone the thumbs up (Noel Pascoe photos)
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Murphy will have only been race riding for three years this August and was eager to accept the ride when offered. He had been on stand by for the ride if the weight (53.5kg) wasn’t right for regular jockey Steven Arnold.
“When the owners offered me the ride on him today I jumped at it,” Murphy said.
“I’ve had a fair bit of luck with Michael Moroney and the owners and I’ve won a fair few races on this horse and Sarrera.
“I thought he would run a good race. He drew a good barrier and the wet track suited him, everything went well. It was a great result.
“It’s a really good feeling. I thought I had it at the 100m but his not one to hit the line and those other two were coming on the outside pretty quick. I’m just wrapped that he hung on.”
The win could have gone the other way if only for a few strides for Hard to Catch and trainer Pat Duff.
“We’ll I thought it was a great run. He just got held up for a few strides and he had to search for the better ground.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Claire Power – June 7
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