Racing: Johnny Murtagh has been handed a first-rate chance to fill in a Classic blank on the Pascal Bary-trained filly Six Perfections at the Curragh on Sunday.
Thierry Thuillez, widely criticised for his ride on the filly in the Newmarket Guineas, has paid the price and the French jockey will be replaced by Murtagh for the Entenmann's Irish 1,000 Guineas. Thulliez has ridden Six Perfections in all her six races to date.
Alan Cooper, racing manager to Six Perfections' owners, the Niarchos family, said yesterday: "I can confirm that John Murtagh will ride the filly at the Curragh."
Six Perfections was beaten a length and a half by Russian Rhythm at Newmarket after a disastrous passage through the race.
Afterwards Thuillez, who won the French Derby and the Breeders' Cup Mile last season in the Niarchos colours, was criticised for his tactical performance.
Murtagh's experience at the Curragh is considerable but he has yet to win the 1,000 Guineas at his home track. Along with the St Leger, it is the only blank on his Classic CV.
Connections of the lightly-raced Ikhtyar are considering supplementing the well-bred colt for the Entenmann's Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday. But if they decide not to fork out €40,000 by noon today, he is likely to run at Kempton the same day instead.
