Oisin Murphy column following Breeders' Cup Distaff success on Marche Lorraine

A pleasant surprise

I didn’t expect Marche Lorraine to win on Saturday, I don’t think anybody did, but the whole experience was beyond belief really.

I relished it for a split second when I was being interviewed on the horse straight after the race, but other than that I haven’t had much time to reflect on it. I’m sure over the next few days I’ll be able to look back on it with fond memories.

A Breeders’ Cup winner, and a Grade One winner on the dirt, is incredible and especially so to do it for Marche Lorraine’s connections. I rode quite a bit for the trainer Yoshito Yahagi in Japan, and I rode for the connections in Hong Kong too. I rode Lys Gracieux, who went on to win the Cox Plate.

The owners are very famous in Japan – the U. Carrot Farm Company – they’re led by the Yoshida family who are almost like the Coolmore of Japan. They’ve had some machines in the past, Epiphaneia won a Japan Cup for them in 2014.

After I won the Distaff, the voice I could hear above all from the stands was Sheikh Fahad who owns the sixth Shedaresthedevil in partnership, he was shouting down from his box and he sounded ecstatic for me which was great.

I was under no pressure at all going into the race, I love riding for the trainer anyway as I get on well with him and he doesn’t give me instructions.

How the Distaff unfolded

I knew the primary objective was to get Marche Lorraine to finish as close as she possibly could and on paper the form horses were always going to go and race on the pace. If I raced up there with them then I was never going to finish off so I decided to bide my time.

I was drawn beside Jose Ortiz (Dunbar Road) so just followed him the whole way around – a guy I know asked why I went to the front so early but it was a case of necessity as if I didn’t go when I did I was going to get crossed by one of the other outsiders.

I’m afraid my experience on dirt is limited but I am aware that you cannot afford to ever get stopped in your run, it all has to be smooth as possible and you don’t win dirt races when your momentum gets checked.

I’m sure the final sectionals were really slow – it’s usually the case on the dirt – and it was a long final furlong for her, but to win was quite amazing.

Marche Lorraine's stable companion Loves Only You was brilliant in the Filly & Mare Turf, she got a bit stuck in traffic and lost her position but she was just much too good.

It’ll be interesting to see if she stays on next year but they do normally keep their six-year-olds in training so maybe she will, but there hasn’t been any decision about that I’d imagine.

Big hope Hierarchy emerges with credit

I’d ridden at the track before and the turf course really is sharper than anything you’d see in this country, or across Europe. The bend is incredibly cambered, but you can almost go round on one wheel/leg as you’re turning.

Hierarchy ran really well in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, I followed the eventual second (Go Bears Go) and I thought I was travelling a bit better than John Velasquez on him. Having moved better, it was a shame I didn’t quite have the horse to pass him in the straight, considering Go Bears Go was only beaten half a length, but he ran a very good race.

Ocean Road ran a career best, she was sixth in the Filly & Mare Turf, she had a good trip and I just tried to get her to run well. I was quite pleased with her.

Mise En Scene – I don’t blame her at all, I just sat too close to a strong pace.

I thought I had to get her out and she jumped very well, but I lit her up early and she just fell in a hole late. She’ll be fine, but I should have come back at first. The second was drawn beside me and she drew back, which is what I should have done in hindsight.

Finally, hats off to Charlie Appleby, William Buick, and also to Dubawi who sired all three of their winners. They brought a very strong team and it really worked out for them in a big way.

More from Sporting Life

• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing columnists
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.