Murtagh To Get His Eye In On Tears I Cry

The Age

Wednesday October 29, 2008

Michael Sharkie

ANNE McGrath, the part-owner and now trainer of last year's Emirates Stakes winner Tears I Cry, has pulled off one of the coups of the spring carnival by booking Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh for her horse at Flemington on Saturday.

Murtagh, who will ride Melbourne Cup favourite Septimus for Aidan O'Brien, was keen to ride at Flemington on Saturday ahead of Tuesday's Cup, and scored the ride on Tears I Cry in a group 3 1400-metre handicap after regular jockey Nikita Beriman was suspended yesterday.

"Nikita was all set to ride him but she got suspended yesterday, so I rang Nick Ryan's manager because he was interested in the ride, but we ended up with John instead," McGrath said. "It's unbelievable the way it's worked out."

McGrath is best remembered as the jubilant owner of Tears I Cry, the horse who upstaged his better-performed rivals to win the Emirates at $101 last year.

"He came over to us straight after he ran in the Underwood, but he got a virus and missed the Toorak and the Jayco Mile," McGrath said.

After trialing yesterday McGrath is hoping Tears I Cry pulls up well enough to defend his Emirates title on Saturday week.

© 2008 The Age

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