Six of the best for Oisin Murphy on memorable Monday at Nakayama

Oisin Murphy celebrated a sensational six-timer at Nakayama on a memorable Monday for Britain’s champion Flat jockey.

Murphy, who won the Japan Cup aboard Suave Richard in November, enjoyed a five-timer at Tokyo last year but went one better with six victories from 11 rides on the card following a double at the same track on Sunday.

The Sakae Kunieda-trained Succession provided Murphy with feature-race success in the Listed Junior Cup, worth ¥20,322,000 (£142,916/€167,939) to the winner.

Succession was Murphy’s fifth winner at the meeting following earlier strikes aboard American Face, Tokai Etoile, Hiraboku Queen and Satono Unison.

Murphy’s finishing positions at Nakayama

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Murphy’s sixth triumph came on Lilac Colour in the Carbuncle Stakes, while three of his other five rides finished in the placings.

Murphy said on Monday: “I’m really pleased to get off the mark for 2020 and I had a strong book of rides to begin the racing in Japan over the weekend. I had two winners and lots of placings on Sunday then six winners today, so it’s been a great start.

“I had four winners for Almond Eye’s trainer Mr Kunieda – two on Sunday and two today – and one for Rey De Oro’s trainer Mr Fujisawa, last year’s champion trainer Mr Yasuda, Mr Toda and Mr Koga.

“I rode some really nice horses with the potential for Group 1 company over the last few days, particularly Satono Flag who I’m two from two on now. He’s by Deep Impact and has a big future.

“I messed up on Succession last time but it was nice to make amends and to keep the ride for Mr Kunieda and owners U Carrot Farm. I hope he’ll continue to progress and maybe he could be a Guineas horse and Satono Flag could make into a Derby horse – it’s not out of the question. This is the time of year in Japan when those types of horses start to step out.”

Deirdre and Oisin Murphy are led in after the Nassau Stakes in AugustCredit: Edward Whitaker

Murphy secured a historic Group 1 success aboard the Mitsuru Hashida-trained Deirdre in the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in August and headed to Japan shortly after winning the rescheduled Vertem Futurity Stakes at Newcastle aboard the Andrew Balding-trained Kameko at the start of November.

He is set to return to Europe after riding at Tokyo on February 2 and hopes to build on his great start to the year.

Murphy added: “I’m hoping to continue my momentum and there’s racing at Nakayama on Saturday, Sunday and Monday coming up, so it will be very busy. To start the year like this is really pleasing but although there’s satisfaction there’s also relief as you’re always trying to maintain the level you’re riding at.

“It’s nice to know things are going well and hopefully when I return to Europe in February, potentially incorporating Dubai around that time, I can continue my relationship with all the trainers and owners there.”

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