Oisin Murphy says it's the 'stuff of dreams' after being named top jockey at Royal Ascot

LAMBOURN jockey Oisin Murphy said it was ‘the stuff of dreams’ after he was crowned top jockey at last week’s Royal Ascot.

The 25-year-old won five races across the five days, with victories on Berkshire Shadow, Perotto, Alcohol Free, Quickthorn and Foxes Tales to finish one ahead of Ryan Moore and two ahead of his championship rival William Buick.

The Andrew Balding-trained Foxes Tales won the Golden Gates Handicap on the final day to hand the title to Murphy, for the first time in his career.

“It’s brilliant for King Power - they’ve put so much into British racing, and it’s great for them. They are huge supporters of British racing, myself, Andrew Balding and Silvestre De Sousa, and to repay them on the big stage is massive.

“When I was a child, I watched this meeting with my parents and I never thought this armband belonged on me, but thankfully the last few days have been incredible.

“It was beyond my wildest dreams and I never thought I would have the ammunition to give a go because it normally belongs to Ryan [Moore] and Frankie [Dettori].

“It was a super week and the stuff of dreams,” added the jockey. “It’s special, because as I get older, I appreciate these days more and more. I know I’m only 25, but life, as we learnt this week, is precious, and it’s a continuous reminder.”

Across the five winners throughout the week, Murphy admitted that winning on Alcohol Free was probably his standout moment.

The three-year-old responded in tremendous style to with the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, a month after a difficult run in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

“My best moment of the week was Alcohol Free. She came along at a very important time in my career last year - I was under a lot of pressure and I managed to nail a Group 1.

“She is a star, I ride her a lot at home and it means a lot for Park House stables and her owner Jeff Smith.

Balding, who trains Alcohol Free, Berkshire Shadow and Foxes Tales, secured four winners at the meeting fell just short in the trainers' title race, losing out to John and Thady Gosden on placings.

An interview with the Kingsclere trainer is available on page 78 and a report from racing at Newbury is on page 77.