Exciting New Racing Partnership

A New Partnership Forged in Respect and High Ambition

When you spend enough time in this game, you learn to respect the people who have truly done it at the very top—on the biggest stages, under the most intense pressure. That’s why linking up with a name like Johnny Murtagh is something we are genuinely excited about here at Australian Bloodstock.

Johnny’s résumé speaks for itself, but what stands out isn’t just the sheer volume of his success; it’s where he achieved it. He has long been the go-to rider in the biggest races across Europe, and the horses he partnered with paint a clear picture of the elite level we’re talking about. He won an Arc on Sinndar, which is as tough a race as you’ll find anywhere in the world. He was the man aboard Yeats through that incredible display of staying dominance at Royal Ascot. And, from an Australian perspective, there’s Choisir—a horse that changed the way we think about international racing—winning at Royal Ascot with Johnny in the saddle.

That is elite company, and more importantly, it shows he understands what top-end horses look like, feel like, and how to place them.

Since moving into training, he’s carried that same mindset. He’s not focused on being the biggest operation in Europe; he’s focused on quality, placement, and getting the most out of the horses he has. That aligns perfectly with how we like to operate.

This weekend is the first step in working together. Our filly Bubblegum lines up in the Irish EBF Park Express Stakes (Group 3) over a mile at the Curragh. She’s drawn barrier 8 and profiles as a solid each-way chance in a good race. It’s always interesting when you step into a new partnership like this—you learn quickly. But when you’re dealing with someone who has been there and done it at the very highest level, a strong level of confidence comes with that.

We’ve got a filly we think measures up, and we know she’s in the right hands. That’s all you can ask for heading into a race like this.