Emma Murphy capped off a big forty-eight hours for Goulburn trainers when she produced “Ruff’ to win one of the features on Sunday’s Goulburn Australia Goulburn Cup program.
Murphy is now training under her own banner and was thrilled to win the Graeme Spackman Goulpro Country Magic with Ruff.
“It was a special result winning ‘Spacky’s’ race for 2023/24,” Emma said post-race.
“I spoke to Judy (his wife) and said he would have had a twinkle in his eye seeing the result and she agreed!”
Emma said she was confident the four-year old gelding was capable of a strong result going into Sunday.
“I was very happy with how Ruff was going into the race and the plan was to roll forward.”
With a track assisting horses who could do it at both ends of a race kudos still goes to Murphy who was able to coax enough race fitness into him over a mile and win second up with a strong headwind also in play.
“It helped how the track was playing too but he was very brave and it was a fair dinkum battle late!”
Emma also referenced winning jockey Jean Van Overmeire and James Innes Jnr who was a plan A option before a recent injury.
“I was thrilled to get Jean on after James’ recent head and neck injury, James knows the horse well and had helped us with his preparation.”
His trainer say she’s excited about Ruff’s ongoing campaign too.
“I’m keeping an eye out to see if there are any suitable Highway Handicaps coming up as well.”
Emma also referenced defeating partner Pat’s horse, Fairness Is Best in the race, labelling it ‘a good Murphy quinella’. We know who’s doing the dishes all week!
Goulburn’s master trainer Danny Williams sent another TAB Highway Handicap safely back down the Hume on the weekend as well courtesy of Atmospheric Rock’s barnstorming win at Royal Randwick.
Williams produced the galloper ready to win with sixty-two kilos and all! Jason Collett then served up a winning ride to match, despite a few ‘stop-go’ moments in the straight.
Williams maintained the rage on his home track on Sunday, doing the right thing by favourite backers in the opening event putting the promising Highway Strip in the fast lane to win first up.
Rounding out the weekend’s Goulburn mash up was Tash Burleigh who went within a whisker of a giant killing result at headquarters in the quaddie closer on Saturday.
The Burleigh-Amy McLucas-Pokerjack combination was only gunned down in the shadows of the post at $41…just missing out on posting what would have been another ‘rough result’!
Goulburn Race Club extends its thanks to all industry participants, on track patrons and its commercial partners who supported Sunday’s Goulburn Cup meeting.
Goulburn Cup Day 2024 is proudly supported by ‘Goulburn Australia’ and the Goulburn Soldiers Club.
PHOTO: Pat, Emma & Peggy Murphy with Judy Spackman (courtesy of Graeme White)
