Champion jockey-elect Oisin Murphy survives stewards' inquiry to land 200th winner of the year

Oisin Murphy rode his 200th winner of the year after Qetaifan survived a stewards’ inquiry to claim the 6f juvenile novice stakes at Goodwood on Sunday.

Murphy last rode 200 winners in a year in 2019, when he managed 220 winners, a career best, and is the only rider to have ridden 200 Flat winners in Britain this year.

Qetaifan appeared to have an excellent chance of providing the rider with his double century of winners, being sent off as an odds-on favourite to score for trainer Andrew Balding and owner Abdulaziz Al Rabban.

The Starspangledbanner colt moved to the lead with two furlongs to run but drifted to his left, in the process squeezing up the Pat Dobbs-ridden Great as he made a challenge on the stands’ side rail. Great continued to be tight for room through the final furlong, prompting an inquiry, but the result was allowed to stand.

Balding said: "It's a great achievement by Oisin to be champion jockey again and to ride that many winners. The fact he's been able to ride that many winners at the better meetings is quite something and I'm delighted he's done so well."

He added: "It's never easy carrying a penalty, so that was a really pleasing effort from Qetaifan. I'll have to discuss with the owner what the next steps are but he has shown he can cope with that ground, so we might look at the Horris Hill for him. He's also in the sales."

Murphy, who completed a double when landing the 1m1f juvenile novice on the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Castle Gates, will be crowned champion jockey for the fourth time on Saturday after he returned in 2023 following a 14-month suspension for conduct prejudicial to the reputation of British racing.

He has claimed three top-level victories this season on Asfoora in the King Charles III Stakes and Khaadem in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, as well as the Grade 1 Summer Stakes on the Balding-trained New Century at Woodbine in Toronto.

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