Ancient Wisdom and Tara Murphy star in Nottingham charity race
Former Group One winner out in front in Autism In Racing ‘Heroes Gallop’.
A touch of class came to the fore in the Autism In Racing ‘Heroes Gallop’ at Nottingham, as Group One-winning juvenile and one-time Derby hope Ancient Wisdom sauntered to charity race success in the hands of Tara Murphy.
Last seen running at Royal Ascot, Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old proved a cut above the opposition in a nine-strong field which saw each rider raising vital funds for Autism In Racing’s objective of creating more welcoming and accessible opportunities across British racing.
Murphy, who is a full-time employee at Appleby’s Moulton Paddocks base and has a previous connection to Autism In Racing ambassador Jane Buick, wife of Godolphin number one William Buick, was thrilled to get the opportunity to take part..
Murphy said: “I’m very grateful to Charlie and the whole team for trusting me with such a cool horse. I’ve been working for Charlie now for nearly two years and to get an opportunity like this is amazing.
“The race suited us and the last couple of weeks I’ve been riding him and getting used to him and it all led up to today. I’m very grateful for having the chance to get to know him the last few weeks and it’s a day I’ll remember forever really.”
She added: “He wasn’t slowing down coming round the bend and I was just thinking, ‘please don’t slip’, and he was so sure-footed coming round there. I then just dropped my hands in the straight and let him do his thing and he powered home – it was some feeling, I didn’t dare look round in case I fell off!”
On her reasons for taking part in the charity event, she added: “I was very lucky a few year’s ago that Jane let me ride her event horse Monbeg Maximus and that opportunity took me to some great places.
“So when Jane asked me if I wanted to take part it was a no-brainer for such an amazing cause. I’m so grateful to have raised some money for a worthy cause and it’s been an amazing day.”
Former jockey turned TV personality Leonna Mayor was second aboard Dylan Cunha’s stable star Asgard’s Captain.
Meanwhile, Grand National-winning jockey Patrick Mullins was back in fourth aboard Dan Skelton’s Greatwood Hurdle hope Harry Lowes having hotfooted it to Colwick Park having ridden in the opener at Huntingdon earlier in the afternoon.
Mullins said: “It was great fun and Autism In Racing founder Bobby Beevers deserves an awful lot of credit for organising it.
“There was great excitement amongst the riders and we didn’t hang around, we went pretty quick and I’m delighted to have been part of it.
“When I saw the Godolphin colours kicking on I thought, ‘I might be in trouble here’, but I’m not sure Harry Lowes will be going one-mile-two again anytime soon.”