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Point-to-pointing’s latest prodigy, Lucas Murphy, 16, rode an unraced four-year-old over fences for the first time on Sunday and came out a winner.
His victory in the Goffs-sponsored GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden Series race on the Tom George owned-and-trained Midem De Berce (pictured above) completed a double on Maisemore Park’s card and carried Murphy to the head of the Highflyer Bloodstock novice men’s championship. Not that the teenage rider had an easy time over the early fences, for Midem De Berce proved headstrong, led after the first and galloped into a clear lead from his seven rivals.
He was still well ahead running down the back straight for the final time, at which point the Will Biddick-trained mare Kapella Grey (11/10f) and Yemen (5/2) from Clive Boultbee-Brooks’ yard began earnest pursuit. Yemen fell three out, and while Kapella Grey did her best to reduce the gap she was seven lengths adrift at the line.
Lucas Murphy, who won the GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden on Midem De Berce (Ce)
Murphy, whose father Timmy won the Aintree and Irish Grand Nationals and a host of Grade One races over jumps, said: “He was quite strong, but once he was on his own in front he did settle down. I was hoping to be around five lengths in front, not 20, but it made it into a catch-me-if-you-can kind of race and it worked out well. He jumped well enough at most of the fences, and while he made the odd mistake he’s a four-year-old maiden and they’re expected to do that. Even when he made a mistake he learnt from it.
“He’s good, and when he needed to give a good jump he did. He was well clear turning for home, but managed to fill himself up and found more gears to win.”
The chasing pack: (l to r) Kapella Grey (Ed Doggrell), Yemen (James King) and Idole Des Carnette (Zac Baker) (Ce)
Gloucestershire-based George said: “He’s a forward-going keen horse who wants to get on with it. He goes a good gallop so there’s no point sitting behind horses. I knew Lucas was a good rider, although I didn’t know if he was keen on riding four-year-old unraced maidens. His father said he [Timmy] used to ride them so why not?
“I was very impressed by Lucas’s feedback even before the race – he’d obviously thought about it as well as being a good rider.
“We bought this horse in France as a two-year-old and he came to me at three. I thought this track and two and a half miles would suit him, and I’m keen to get involved in a few young pointers who could run in the GB Pointing Series. It’s just opened up a few avenues. If he wins on the track he picks up a £15,000 bonus which is nice, but he’ll be more of a two-mile horse than a three-mile horse for now.
“We’ve just broken in 15 two-year-olds and we’re getting horses going younger. For a four-year-old to go and do that first time out shows what they can do.”
George Stanners (left) of sponsors Goffs with Tom George and winner Midem De Berce (Ce)
Midem De Berce is a son of The Anvil (Galileo), who was trained by Aidan O’Brien to finish second in the Gr.2 Royal Lodge Stakes as a two-year-old and third in the Gr.3 Chester Vase the following year. He now stands at Haras du Grand Chesnaie in France, and since Midem De Berce was bred across The Channel he is now eligible for a £15,000 bonus as a result of his GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden Series win. To land the money he will have to win a developmental hurdle or chase within two years from a British licensed yard – winners in the series who are bred in Britain are in line for a £25,000 bonus.
The next race in the Series takes place at Eyton-on-Severn on Easter Monday.
Keep viewing to read Andrew King’s full report from Maisemore Park
