Oisin Murphy has secured the coveted ride on French filly Ramatuelle as she seeks redemption against Elmalka in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Trained by Christopher Head and owned by a group that includes basketball star, Tony Parker, Ramatuelle was a top two-year-old in Europe last season with notable wins in the Prix Robert Papin and a close second in the Prix Morny.
After a strong start to the new season and a near-miss at the 1000 Guineas, Ramatuelle's connections set their sights on the mile distance and targeted the Classic race at Newmarket. Despite a valiant effort, she was narrowly beaten by Elmalka and Porta Fortuna. Undeterred, her team immediately aimed for Royal Ascot, with Oisin Murphy now taking the reins from regular rider Aurelien Lemaitre.
Murphy, a successful jockey at the Royal meeting with 11 wins under his belt, expressed excitement at riding Ramatuelle and acknowledged the fierce competition in the Coronation Stakes. He also highlighted his partnership with two Australian contenders, Asfoora and Kitty Rose, in the King Charles III Stakes and Sandringham Stakes respectively.
Asfoora, trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, showed promise in her recent run at Haydock and Murphy is confident in her abilities. Meanwhile, Kitty Rose, a recent addition to the Australian team, brings strong form from Ireland and is expected to put up a strong performance in the Sandringham Stakes despite carrying a heavy weight.
Overall, Murphy is optimistic about his prospects at Royal Ascot and looks forward to partnering with Ramatuelle and the Australian contenders in challenging races throughout the prestigious event.