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| |  Saturday, 2 June, 2001, 10:42 GMT 11:42 UK Life in the fast lane Johnny Murtagh celebrates at Epsom last year Richard Griffiths speaks to last year's Epsom Derby winning jockey Johnny Murtagh and he reveals what has happened to him since his victory. It took just a matter of seconds, the time between hitting the front and soaring past the winning post, for Johnny Murtagh's life to change utterly. It has taken much longer for him to realise by just how much. By his own happy admission, the enormity of winning the Epsom Derby is still impacting on Murtagh, nearly 12 months on from his success on Sinndar. New star Such is the competitive, quality nature of the race, for which only the best will do, most jockeys who win the Derby are already men at the peak. It is a rare occasion when the Derby reveals a new star of the saddle.
But that has been the case with Johnny Murtagh. Despite his standing as one of the best riders on the Irish racing circuit, Sinndar's Derby win carried him to almost unbelievable prominence. In all, Murtagh won an unprecedented 12 Group One victories last season, which he knows would not have happened without Sinndar's Derby win. Peak of his profession "There is no doubt that last year's fabulous run would not have happened without the Derby. "It started the ball rolling for me," he says. "Winning the race puts you right up there at the peak of your profession. "It's such a prestigious race to win, such a hard race to win. It's a great shop window for anyone who is lucky enough to do so." Winning the Derby has allowed 31-year-old Murtagh to move on in more ways than one. It has secured him a reputation as one of the most select jockeys riding. But, just as importantly, exorcised a former reputation as someone who nearly threw it all away during a youthful, drink-led period in the doldrums when he came close to packing it in as a jockey. Problems The Derby is a mighty reminder of how far behind he has left his problems.
"There's the great excitement of last year and the great excitement that is starting now all over again. "Winning the Derby takes a really long time for it all to sink in, in some ways it still is." Murtagh appears destined to ride one of the favourites this year - one of the two strongly-fancied runners trained by Sir Michael Stoute. There is Golan, the 2,000 Guineas winner, or the improving Dilshaan. "I'll just sit back and wait for the call from Sir Michael to find out which one I'll be riding," he said. "They both have a great chance. It's a very exciting position to be in." | |
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