South Australian Derby setback for trainer after banned jockey loses ride

Daily Telegraph

02-05-2025

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He was hoping to ride the race of his life, but English jockey Connor Murtagh will instead avoid Saturday's $1m South Australian Derby at Morphettville due to a suspension that has left him gutted.
Murtagh, 25, won the Port Adelaide Guineas aboard the Derby-bound Snoopy Now, yet a careless riding ban at Oakbank (April 21) saw Murtagh handed a three-meeting ban, which has ultimately ruled him out of Saturday's 2500m Group 1.
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A desperate Murtagh appealed the three-meeting ban on Thursday at the Racing Appeals Tribunal, hopeful of a stay of proceedings, but the appeal was unsuccessful.
It has left Karoonda handler Darryl Hewitt in a race against time to find a new rider for his talented yet challenging gelding, who only Murtagh has gelled with.
'It (Derby) was exciting before the hearing on Thursday, it's put a spanner in the works,' Hewitt, a former SANFL footballer of over 200 games, said.
'We are struggling for a rider now. That's where we are at, I was almost going to scratch him.
'It's just ridiculous, the kid's deflated, he's gone to Melbourne to get away from it.'
An abandoned Port Augusta meeting on April 27, would have been included in the ban, that also comprised Wednesday's Murray Bridge card, and Friday's Bordertown meeting.
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The Port Augusta meeting was cancelled on April 15, due to a delay with resurfacing the track.
Hewitt said that Murtagh, who pleaded guilty and accepted the three-meeting ban, was unaware the Port Augusta meeting was cancelled, with the suspension therefore including Saturday's Derby.
'You would think that's fairly good grounds to appeal,' he said.
'It's so disappointing. He (Connor) rode him this morning (Friday), after all that Thursday, I think he was absolutely beside himself, but he said I'll be there.
'He lobbed here at seven this morning, did the business, and said 'I've got to get out'.'
Hewitt toyed with scratching Snoopy Now, a $15 hope with Sportsbet for Saturday's SA Derby, but Murtagh urged Hewitt to stay course.
'I asked Connor, I said 'I feel like scratching him',' he said.
'He said 'no, it's all my work too, you know'. I thought 'fair enough'.'
Julie Preston and Connor Murtagh celebrate Snoopy Now's Port Adelaide Guineas win in April. Picture: Makoto Kaneko
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Murtagh was one of six jockeys to be suspended at Oakbank on April 21, with premiership-winning hoop Jake Toeroek, and Teagan Voorham also slapped with three-meeting bans that impeded their autumn carnival.
Chief steward Matt Santoro said the abandoned Port Augusta meeting was taken into account by the hoops facing suspension.
'Toeroek and Voorham both had to make a tough decision. Toeroek decided he would ride Sangster Day and miss the Derby,' Santoro said.
'Teagan wanted to speak to her manager, she decided she would miss the lead up ride in the Chairman's (Stakes), and would ride on Derby Day.
'Connor wanted to discuss with his manager, he came back to us and decided he would miss the Derby, and ride in the Chairman's.
'He was given five meetings, discounted by one for his guilty plea, and given one discount (meeting) because he was going to miss a Group 1 day.
'He's appealed that and asked for a stay of proceedings and he wasn't granted one by the appeals tribunal.'
Snoopy Now with Darryl Hewitt and partner Julie Preston, who is also a part-owner. Picture: Racing SA
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Despite the setback, Hewitt was pleased with Snoopy Now's sixth placing in the Chairman's Stakes (2000m) last Saturday.
'He got out late. He made good ground considering how far back (he was) and how they quickened on the lead,' Hewitt said.
The son of Sir Prancealot has quirks, but is in top order heading into Saturday's Derby, which will be Hewitt's first Group 1 runner. He prepared five-time stakes winner Merlot Now to Group-level appearances, but rates Snoopy Now even higher.
'The horse is as good as gold,' he said.
'There's a few antics, that won't be a problem, he gets led around by the clerk of the course and gets held in the gates.
'He did everything right last Saturday, it's just putting someone on who may think 'oh this thing might drop its head or do this' then they're riding on a short rein and they've got his head overracing.
'Connor knows he's doesn't do that in a race, and rides him on a long rein which allows him to settle, I'm not sure if we'll get that with someone riding him for the first time.'
Originally published as 'I feel like scratching him': South Australian Derby setback for trainer Darryl Hewitt after banned jockey Connor Murtagh loses ride