Since starting training in the United States in 2012, Conor Murphy has never been reluctant to ride one of his horses on a road trip from his base at the Skylight Training Center in Goshen, Ky.
Size went so far for him, winning three classified shares in Canada from 2013-16 and earning him a spot in two Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T). After that, Murphy was a trainee Great expansion And Emmaus also raced in shares across the United States.
Now, he is sending his current stable of star, Louisville Stakes (G3T) winner. Foreign regulations arrived in New Jersey on a lucrative mission, running a grass marathon in the $600,000 United Nation Stakes (G1T) Prize on July 22 at Monmouth Park in a race that came before Saturday’s featured Haskell Stakes (G1).
Three-pass, 1 3/8-mile United Nations will mark the first grade 1 test for Foreign Relations, who face nine opponents, including the 2023 graded winners therapist , cat mint , Astronomy And Red Knight .
The race was also an opportunity for Murphy to pursue the first top-level betting race of his coaching career. He’s finished before, with the Great Wide Open’s second place in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) 2018 being his best yet.
“We’ve had a few close calls but it’s a huge ambition to win a 1st grade,” said the Irish-born coach. “Look, they’re obviously very, very hard to win but I think this horse (quality). I really think this Saturday’s race will suit him. We’ve done all we can and now we just have to hope for a good ride and everything else.”
Double O Racing’s External Relations, a 5-year-old child Karakontie gelding, crossed the rope first of his two appearances in the three-turn turf races, although he was disqualified from one of those races for interference while racing in the allotted time at Keeneland April 19. However, with a later start, he will beat the 1-and-a-half mile Louisville on May 20 at 7-1 odds, beating the United Nations starter Limited one and a half lengths.
#10 Foreign Relations and @decky_cann Grab the G3 Louisville S. at Churchill Downs for Coach Conor Murphy! 🏆
The 5 year old gel class starts on July 1st!
🎥 #TwinSspiresPlayback pic.twitter.com/wKcQE6BEhq
— Racing TwinSpires (@TwinSpires) May 20, 2023
Following Louisville, Foreign Relations disappointed its mutuel supporters, finishing sixth in two turns, 1 1/4 miles Chorleywood Overnight Stakes at Ellis . Park as favorite even money.
Murphy said: “A mile and a half around Ellis would never be in his best style. “It’s done its job from the point of view that he’s got a race — he’s tearing down walls and needs to run. … Going back three turns on Saturday, I think you’ll see the best of him.”
Another Irish native now based in Kentucky, jockey Declan Cannon, goes to the 8-1 race at the United Nations.
Coach Mike Maker—who won the United Nations with Larger image in 2017 and hydrophobia in 2020—run three horses in Saturday’s race: Therapist, Yamato and the Red Knight.
Trinity Farm’s Red Knight is the most successful of his trio, graded multi-stakes winner who won 1 3/8 mile Man O’ War Stakes (G1T) on May 13 at Belmont Park. He then finished fourth in Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at 1 1/4 mile on Belmont Stakes Day.
9 years old pure solution gelding had the best earnings in the race of over $1.7 million for a 12-9-1 record in 35 starts.
Tyler Gaffalione rides on Red Knight favorites 5-2 in the morning, while Javier Castellano rides Therapist 6-1 and Luis Saez on 15-1 Yamato.
Her first attempt at a grass marathon was Catnip with a 4-1 record, the winner of three consecutive races for coach Mike Stidham. Two of those three wins came on local turf, capped by Monmouth Stakes (G3T) June 17 at 1 1/8 mile. That afternoon, the 4-year-old child The joy of kittens gelding made his way through the tumultuous traffic to regroup in the stretch and score half the length under Joel Rosario. He returned to the iron on Saturday.
A hybrid of owners John and Susan Moore, Catnip doesn’t participate in the Silent Name Mare Festival (JPN), making it a half-brother to Princess Grace, who has become a multi-millionaire winning bet under the direction of Stidham. Sold last fall for $1.7 million, she took home a Group 3 win in Australia for China Horse Club owner and coach Chris Waller this year.
Cut the gap for the United Nations as the West Coast invader Astronomy group 1 winner in Brazil, who crossed the 1 3/4 mile San Juan Capistrano (G3T) on June 18 at Santa Anita . Park. 5 years old Il Doge The horse has shown steady progress in three domestic starts for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, who trains it for Red Rafa Stud.
Fellow Hall of Famer Mike Smith is on the second pick 3-1 on the morning line.
Item: United Nations S. (G1T)
Monmouth ParkSaturday, July 22, 2023, Race 11
- IT class
- 1 3/8m
- pitch
- $600,000
- 3 years old and up
- 5:06 pm (local)
Race 11, United Nations S. (G1T)
Fixed Odds Market from MonmouthBets
(Return on $1 bet)
1. Therapist $19
2. Very High (GB) $41
3. Cat mint $4.20
4. Ocean Map $51
5. Limited Liability $9
6. Planet (BRZ) $5
7. Yamato $12
8. External Relations $8.50
9. Red Knight $2.70
10. Kygo (GER) $41
*Price is subject to change
