THE mighty Murdock stable, based at Annaghmore, had a slightly quieter season last year, nevertheless Gavin Murdock’s enthusiasm is undiminished in the run up to the May 4th opening meeting.
Gavin and brother Jay have nine horses in work ‘more than I wanted, but it just kind of happened’.
He is quick to praise his young helpers, his own daughter Ruby and Jay’s girl Georgia.
“They are some help at the weekends, we couldn’t do it without them.”
Gavin says: “I suppose the highlight of 2024 was Oakwood Mick coming back to form in the autumn.
“We got a nice run or two out of Bobby Barry’s Fun In The Sun, although we only got her late in the year.
“Oakwood Mick is top-class.
“Mick has gone 1.59 at Annaghmore and the track has been running slow in recent years.
“He has been narrowly beaten by some really good horses, the plan is that he goes to the USA late this season.”
The proud Market man (an area in Belfast) is just like the rest of the local trotting fraternity, in that he is very fired up about the revamped IHRA Juvenile Series for two, three and four-year-old pacers.
The Dept for Agriculture, Fishing and the Marine recently rubber stamped €70,000 towards the prize fund, estimated at €120,00 total.
“We have seven horses entered across the divisions, it’s a game-changer,” states Murdock. Gavin put forward five pacers and one trotter as his best hopes for 2025.
LIZ AVENUE (Ire)
3yo g Lismara – Fifth Avenue
He is owned by Clive Richardson, who stood the sire here before the horse died from colic tragically young. He is from the same mare as North To Alaska and Marias Blaze.
We broke him last year, but he was big and gangly.
Every day is a forward day. He paces free-legged (i.e without hobbles) and, when we put them on, he goes in a 60 inch. A nice horse and Clive is great to train for.
BLACKWELL FREDDIE (USA)
3yo g Pappi Rob Hanover – Eternalexpectation
We bought him as a yearling in the States and Robbie Cleary broke him over there. He is the only Pappi Rob in Ireland or the UK.
He was staked up for the VDM and all the races at two, but he wasn’t mature enough, so we turned him out.
Robbie advised us to geld him and he did well on my grass. He is stronger at three, but we haven’t asked him yet.
BONNIES ECLIPSE (Ire)
4yo m Conors Dragon – Blackwell Monsoon
I like this filly a lot. She can be hard to train, as she just wants to fly all the time. We combat that by towing her behind another horse. She only gets yoked twice a week.
We had the dam, who also had her moments. She’ll win some races.
MR FIDELITY (Ire)
3yo g Cellebrisme – High Fidelity
A beautiful young trotter. His dam was the mare with the flaxen mane and tail. This fella got the white face and a couple of socks. The sire had a 1.58 clip.
He wasn’t making enough at the little IHRA auction, so Clive (Richardson) held onto him.
He was nervous to break, but he is trotting well now.
OAKWOOD MICK (Ire)
4yo g Always B Miki – Carmel Camden
He was second in the VDM at two. He picked up a virus at three and it took me most of the year to get him right.
He is from the family of Oakwood Annabella and Oakwood Paddy. He got his first fast work of the year last weekend and he felt like a new horse.
AYR EXCHANGE (GB)
3yo g Hasty Hall – Sold Out
Bobby Barry owns him. He’s a full-brother to Ayr Corleone, but he’s a different type altogether, he’s a more typical Hasty Hall.
Neville Martin started him at two and he was left off to grow. He is showing promise but all the three-year-olds are going to have to grow a pair of wings to beat Ayroplane!
THE horsey world is only a village and everybody knows the other guy. For example, Jamie Hurley is still getting over the loss of Mikey O’Sullivan.
Jamie got to know Mikey and his brother Alan, when the three were starting out at Michael Kennedy’s pre-training yard at Innishannon a few years back. Hope springs eternal and Jamie was keen to talk about Alan’s three winners on the previous weekend.
Nowadays, Jamie has moved away from his involvement with National Hunt.
He is trying manfully to make a full-time business out of trotters and pacers at Reenascreena near Clonakilty.
“My highlight of 2024 was the way that Graal du Dollar turned out. He won five races, all in the higher grades. He is owned by John O’Sullivan a pensioner from Golleen. The horse has given John some return.”
Jamie’s girlfriend is Hannah Richardson, daughter of the legendary JR. The couple spent three months helping Robbie Cleary in New York in the closed season. With contacts like that, the winners should flow.
“I get great support from my sister, Rebecca and my parents, James and Kay,” said the 27-year-old trainer/driver.” Rebecca drove her first winner last year. She is studying to be a veterinary nurse with Ciara Barrett locally.”
GRAAL DE DOLLAR (FR)
9yo g Bold Eagle - Magalie Du Dollar
He’s only the second Bold Eagle to race in Ireland. We’ll start him off at the beach meeting in Cork, he won there last year.
He’s definitely not straightforward. When you are jogging him, you have to jog seven minutes, walk seven minutes to get him to settle.
HOTESSE DE CHASSIN (FR)
8yo m Quel Amour Dudel - Nymphe Du Chassin
Tom Kiely from Cork city owns. She sprang a surprise at Annaghmore last year. She was clipping her front heels at speed and John Richardson advised me to put her front shoes on back to front.
FANDANGO DE NILE (FR)
10yo g Soleil Du Fosse - Sophia Saint Juvin
I’d better mention Hannah’s pet. He won his last start.
He missed a lot of last season, but with the help of the vets in Fethard, I should have him right this year.
BETONME (IRE)
3yo g Betting Line – Pan Cam Drift
He is owned by John Cross jnr. The Cross family are good for the game, they bring supporters. He’s a nice, black gelding and paces very naturally.
BEACH DRAGON (USA)
3yo c Fear The Dragon – Wasaga Beach
He came into Ireland in the dam’s womb. He’s tall for a pacer at 16.1hh. Rocker Laidler started him off. He is still an entire. He is very powerful, but I haven’t gone a sharp mile with him yet.
LUKE Kelleher (23) from Macroom joined a surprisingly large club of people, who have driven a winner in a sulky and ridden a thoroughbred winner, last Sunday.
Luke’s winner was Loyal Praetorian, owned by family friends the Newells, who have moved from Coventry to Macroom, and trained by his uncle Gerry Kelleher. His first win between the flags came at the Carbery point held at Bandon.
Luke’s father Mikey had many winners under both codes. Fellow ‘double-jobbers’ have included Christophe Soumillon, Steve Flook and Dianne Sayer (neé Slack) in the UK and Ian Haughan and Jason O’Reilly in this country, amongst others.