McMurray has turned heads in Sydney. Now for a first stakes win
In less than a month of riding in Sydney, 18-year-old apprentice Jace McMurray has already ticked off a few firsts.
A first city-level ride, anywhere, then a win at Scone's standalone card, followed by a maiden metro double in his first trip to Canterbury on Wednesday, which took him past 100 career victories in just over a year in the saddle.
Next is a debut at Rosehill on Saturday, and a first chance at stakes level.
With most of the senior Sydney jockeys at Eagle Farm on Saturday, McMurray has got the job on Greg Hickman-trained Private Legacy in the listed Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m), where he is unable to use his three-kilogram claim.
The feature race booking is one of possibly nine rides on the 10-race program for McMurray, who is apprenticed to Gold Coast trainer Adam Campton but is now based at Randwick with Michael Freedman on a three-month loan.
He is hoping to make a big enough impression to extend his stay and push for the Sydney apprentices' premiership next season.
And he knows an early stakes win will go a long way to building even more support from trainers and owners in town.
Private Legacy, a $5.50 Sportsbet chance on Thursday, was a last-start winner of the listed Centaurea Stakes (2017m) for fillies and mares at Morphettville and has drawn gate one for Saturday.
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The Australian
4 days ago
- The Australian
Jace McMurray's magic moment with first Saturday success in Sydney
Boom young apprentice Jace McMurray enjoyed a moment to savour at Rosehill Gardens, booting home his first Sydney metropolitan Saturday winner aboard Edited By. Queenslander McMurray, 18, has been up and running in Sydney for about a month now and is quickly turning heads among the training ranks, exhibiting balance and poise well beyond his years. And those attributes were on full display when guiding Edited By to an all-the-way victory in the Ranvet Handicap Benchmark 78 (1500m) for his master Michael Freedman which doubled as his first career Rosehill Gardens triumph. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I was swinging on him at the 600m mark and was just thinking when I let you go please don't stop,' an elated McMurray said post race. 'He was really tough to the line and gave me his all. One to remember.' Fighting off any number of challengers late, McMurray dropped the whip in the drive to the line but didn't panic, switching to hands and heels to get the job done in style. 'Little mistake there … Thankfully the post came up there in time and he kept responding for me,' McMurray added. Edited By's victory came after McMurray finished second aboard the Freedman-trained Codetta a race earlier. Stable representative Sophie Johnson was full of praise for McMurray's steady hand in returning Edited By to the winner's stall at a track he excels at. • Little brother follows in Private Eye's footsteps with impressive win 'He's very consistent and always gives his all, he loves being out in front and dictating and Jace allowed him to do just that today,' Johnson said. 'With Jace being part of the team now being able to use his 3kg claim is a big plus for us, especially on a difficult horse to place like him (Edited By) because he's crept up in the ratings very quickly. 'It makes trying to find the right race pretty hard but with Jace's claim we can put it to good use. It was the difference today there late.' Edited By ($12) scored by a long head at the finish ahead of a fast finishing Pure Alpha ($5) while Little Cointreau ($4.40) was a further neck away in third. Edited By's Saturday success followed a midweek double for McMurray after guiding the Freedman-trained Just Feelin' Lucky and Inside Man to victory at Canterbury on Wednesday. The latter of the two wins notched up a career milestone for McMurray as his 100th win in the saddle. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Godolphin to pick out winter options for Kerguelen Team Godolphin will temper their expectations with Kerguelen despite the four-year-old's impressive return to racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The lightly raced son of Lonhro hadn't been seen at the races since last November but with two eye-catching trials under his belt, returned victorious under the urgings of Kerrin McEvoy. The gritty win, getting the better of Brave One over the concluding stages, extended Kerguelen's career record to three wins and three second from the six appearances. Godolphin stable representative Paul Reid said the stable would map out a winter schedule for the well-bred type. • Eagle Farm to host Super Saturday after Derby Day washout 'He looked like he was the first horse under pressure at the corner but he kept coming and battled away really well,' Reid said. 'The other horse (Brave One) had the inside run on us so it was a really good effort. 'I think for where he's at he's well suited in the winter with the wet tracks and James will just place him accordingly for now. 'To win first up with a bit of weight was a good effort.' Kerrin McEvoy, who claimed a Godolphin double after Zebra Finch landed the two-year-old event, said the gelding raced right up to his looks in the yard. 'Today was my first time on his back and he really took my eye in the parade,' McEvoy said. 'He's a nice horse and gave me a really good feel. He travelled like the winner during the race and to dig in first up at the 1200m like that was a good effort.'
News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
Talented apprentice Jace McMurray shows balance and poise to score an all-the-way win on Edited By at Rosehill
Boom young apprentice Jace McMurray enjoyed a moment to savour at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, booting home his first Sydney metropolitan Saturday winner aboard Edited By. Queenslander McMurray, 17, has been up and running in Sydney for about a month now and is quickly turning heads among the training ranks, exhibiting balance and poise well beyond his years. And those attributes were on full display when guiding Edited By to an all-the-way victory in the Ranvet Handicap Benchmark 78 (1500m) for his master Michael Freedman which doubled as his first career Rosehill Gardens triumph. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I was swinging on him at the 600 metre mark and was just thinking when I let you go please don't stop,' an elated McMurray said post race. 'He was really tough to the line and gave me his all. One to remember.' Fighting off any number of challengers late, McMurray dropped the whip in the drive to the line but didn't panic, switching to hands and heels to get the job done in style. 'Little mistake there … Thankfully the post came up there in time and he kept responding for me,' McMurray added. Edited By's victory came after McMurray finished second aboard the Freedman-trained Codetta a race earlier. Stable representative Sophie Johnson was full of praise for McMurray's steady hand in returning Edited By to the winner's stall at a track he excels at. That's a super tough win to Edited By at Rosehill! 😮 @MFreedmanRacing | @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 • 'He's very consistent and always gives his all, he loves being out in front and dictating and Jace allowed him to do just that today,' Johnson said. 'With Jace being part of the team now being able to use his 3 kilo claim is a big plus for us, especially on a difficult horse to place like him (Edited By) because he's crept up in the ratings very quickly. 'It makes trying to find the right race pretty hard but with Jace's claim we can put it to good use. It was the difference today there late.' Edited By ($12) scored by a long head at the finish ahead of a fast finishing Pure Alpha ($5) while Little Cointreau ($4.40) was a further neck away in third. Edited By's Saturday success followed a midweek double for McMurray after guiding the Freedman-trained Just Feelin' Lucky and In side Man to victory at Canterbury on Wednesday. The latter of the two wins noticed up a career milestone for McMurray as his 100th win in the saddle. â– â– â– â– â– Team Godolphin will temper their expectations with Kerguelen despite the four-year-old's impressive return to racing at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The lightly raced son of Lonhro hadn't been seen at the races since last November but with two eye-catching trials under his belt, returned victorious under the urgings of Kerrin McEvoy. The gritty win, getting the better of Brave One over the concluding stages, extended Kerguelen 's career record to three wins and three second from the six appearances. Godolphin stable representative Paul Reid said the stable would map out a winter schedule for the well-bred type who is making ever post a winner. Kerguelen gives @JamesCummings88 and @KPMcEvoy a Rosehill double! ðŸ'° @godolphin | @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 • Jockey concerns end Eagle Farm meeting, Group 1s postponed 'He looked like he was the first horse under pressure at the corner but he kept coming and battled away really well,' Reid said. 'The other horse (Brave One) had the inside run on us so it was a really good effort. 'I think for where he's at he's well suited in the winter with the wet tracks and James will just place him accordingly for now. 'To win first up with a bit of weight was a good effort.' Kerrin McEvoy, who claimed a Godolphin double after Zebra Finch landed the two-year-old event, said the gelding raced right up to his looks in the yard. 'Today was my first time on his back and he really took my eye in the parade,' McEvoy said. 'He's a nice horse and gave me a really good feel. He travelled like the winner during the race and to dig in first up at the 1200m like that was a good effort.'
Mercury
5 days ago
- Mercury
Zebra Finch eyes J J Atkins glory after Rosehill triumph
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Progressive Godolphin colt Zebra Finch will be given the opportunity to emulate his big-hitting stablemate Broadsiding, earning himself a crack at the J J Atkins Stakes after lowering the boom on a couple of his more fancied rivals at Rosehill on Saturday. Yesterday's seven-horse affair held more interest than most of the other nine races on the Lord Mayor's Cup undercard given it overflowed with J J Atkins aspirants including the Chris Waller duo Hidden Achievement and pricey Frankel colt, Sarapo. The Waller pair were expected to fight out on the finish as they had when they met at Gosford on Cup Day but were unable to make the same impact this time despite racing at home. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Both horses were marked at $15 to win the J J Atkins prior to their respective efforts yesterday. Hidden Achievement blew out to $26 while Sarapo was wound out to $51. Zebra Finch, meanwhile, had his price halved from $51 into $26 for the June 14 feature and carrying the imprimatur of one of the sport's champions. 'If he pulls up well, I'd send him up there, because he is going to get a mile,'' winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy said after the Schweppes Handicap (1300m). 'You obviously need a horse that runs a mile and you need a horse on the improve and that's possibly what he is going to be. ' It wasn't a big winning margin but I am sure with a better quality horse to aim at, he is going to be better again. 'He is the sort of colt that only does enough (but) I am sure if he got challenged there was an extra kick in the lock. 'So if James (Cummings) and the team decide to go to Brisbane for that mile race, I wouldn't be against it.' At least one of the Waller-trained runners from the race looks likely to still make his way up to Brisbane for the last Group 1 two-year-old feature of the season with a decision pending on the other. Yu Long Investments colt Hidden Achievement clocked in third behind Zebra Finch with future Guineas/Derby colt Sarapo three lengths behind in sixth. 'The race lacked tempo, it was a sit and sprint,'' assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth began. 'When Adam (Hyernonimus) won on Hidden Achievement last start, he was mindful that he probably rode him too close that day and took him out of his comfort zone. But he drew so well in a small field today that we basically had to do the same again. 'Adam's adamant that when you can put the bit in his mouth a little bit better, he'll have a better turn of foot. 'Adam is strongly pushing for Chris (to go to Brisbane with him). He said 'I don't care if I ride him or not but you should be running the horse in the JJ', that's his opinion.' As for pricey $750,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase Sarapo, Team Waller will let the dust settle on the colt's second career start before they decide on his next move. 'He was obviously a long way back off a soft tempo,'' Duckworth explained. 'He is going to be a miler at three you'd imagine, it's just whether you try and break through for that maiden win at two. 'Obviously he is by Frankel so if he ends up in the breeding barn, they're going to be worried about him if he doesn't win at two so it might be an important start for him or do we just look after him and just trust that he'll measure up at three.'' As for Zebra Finch, his own stud career will naturally hinge on the outcome of the J J Atkins but Darley would dearly love to add another Group 1 winning son of Exceed And Excel to their roster. Not only is Zebra Finch by one of the truly global stallions of the modern era, his dam was a handy performer herself and by Lonhro who holds the rare honour of being crowned both Australian Horse of the Year and Champion General Sire. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Tough as teak gelding Mickey's Medal helped edge the former rodeo rider Braith Nock one step closer to a medal collection of his own as the race for Sydney's Champion Apprentice enters the home straight. Nock and former Riverina whiz Molly Bourke are locked in an arm wrestle to decide who will join an Honour Roll that includes the likes of Jack Thompson, George Moore, Ron Quinton, Malcolm Johnston, Wayne Harris and Darren Beadman. Nock's win on the Annabell and Rob Archibald-trained Mickey's Medal extended his lead over Bourke by five metropolitan wins with August 1 now exactly two months away. Sitting three-wide with no cover may not have been the text-book ride from Nock on Mickey's Medal but it proved to be the winning formula on a day where it paid to be away from the inside fence. 'Everyone just seemed to take their time to get their spots and all of a sudden there were people inside me,' Nock explained. '(But) it was a slow tempo and he was able to travel really good. 'Actually, he was really relaxed coming to the 600m and I had to wake him up and then I was able to idle-up and I still think he might have had a little bit of a think about it things once we got there, but he got left alone for a long time so it was a really good effort. 'He seems to be just relishing his racing and he tries his best every time.' Yesterday's Precise Air Handicap (1500m) was the gelding's sixth run of the current campaign. His $82,500 collect was a tangible reward to effort on his part, drawing some high praise from the stable. 'It was brilliant to see him win,' stable representative Megan O'Leary said. 'I was almost waiting for (runner-up) Hopper to come down the outside of us but he really deserved that win, he's been running so well this prep.' Mickey's Medal was sold twice before he ever saw a racetrack. The great-grandson of broodmare gem Shantha's Choice was secured for $70,000 as a weanling before being reoffered at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale where he fetched $225,000. Originally published as Godolphin's promising colt Zebra Finch pushes for Group 1 J J Atkins start after his impressive victory at Rosehill
