One of racing’s youngest trainers on the block, Amy Murphy saddled the first winner of her career at Fakenham on Tuesday.
Her five-year-old gelding Mercian King was comfortably on top in the closing stages in the last race on the card, the Collect totepool Winnings At Betfred Shops Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.
In the hands of Graham Watters, the son of Robin Des Pres was taken to the lead after the seventh flight and always looked to have the measure of closest pursuer Bertenbar, who fell at the last.
Mercian King winged the last to secure a two-length victory from That’s The Deal, getting his head in front for the very first time on his 11th attempt.
Murphy, 25, is the daughter of renown owner-breeder Paul Murphy based at Wychnor Park Stud. His famous yellow and purple silks have been carried to Stakes success by the likes of Carole’s Spirit and Carole’s Legacy.
Former assistant to Luca Cumani, Murphy made the move to Hamilton Stables in Newmarket at the start of September, and starts out with a dual-purpose licence and 20 boxes in tow.
She unleashed her first runner Pyla on the Flat at Thirsk on September 13, ridden by her partner Lemos de Souza.
“It couldn’t of been a more perfect way to start off really, it was absolutely fantastic,” reflected Murphy.
“The horses are in really good form we’ve had six runners and four of them have been placed and one has won so that’s the main thing you know having them running well and being fit and healthy.”
Bred by her father, Mercian King sports the silks of the Thoroughbred Club, a network and community of 16 to 30-year-olds that share a common passion for the sport and are interested in carving out a career within the industry.
It couldn’t of been a more perfect way to start off
Tallulah Lewis, The Thoroughbred Club Executive added: “We and the members of The Thoroughbred Club are absolutely thrilled to have had our first winner and even more excited that it was the first winner for our trainer Amy Murphy.
“Mercian King ran a fantastic race and we couldn’t be prouder of him and all the team, we watched him on the big screen with 90 TTC Members during our TTC Careers Course which was a fantastic experience for us and them.”
