Oisin Murphy surprised many by achieving his first Group 1 victory since his drink-driving conviction. In July, the renowned jockey was fined £70,000 and prohibited from driving for 20 months after being found to be almost twice over the legal alcohol limit in a breath test taken hours after his arrest. This incident occurred when the car he was driving veered off the road and hit a tree, causing injuries to a female passenger.
Following the conviction, stricter conditions were imposed on Murphy’s license by the BHA. These conditions, including the requirement to stay sober, were added to his existing restrictions after he served a 14-month ban for Covid regulation violations and two alcohol-related incidents in 2022.
Despite finishing as the runner-up in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, Murphy traveled to Germany and guided Tornado Alert, trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, to victory in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in Munich. The three-year-old from Godolphin outpaced Map Of Stars to secure the win by a margin of two and a half lengths, marking only the second top-level success for Murphy in 2025.
Prior to this achievement, Murphy had not claimed a Group 1 triumph since winning the Lockinge Stakes with Lead Artist in May. In a post-race interview, Murphy initially responded in German, expressing his delight at the victory and his admiration for the horse and the atmosphere in Germany. He later highlighted the horse’s performance and adaptability to the racing conditions.
Bin Suroor commended Murphy’s handling of Tornado Alert and praised the horse’s ability to manage the heavy ground effectively. Looking ahead, Tornado Alert has entries in significant races such as the Juddmonte International at York and the Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Bin Suroor emphasized the importance of assessing the horse’s condition post-race before finalizing future plans.
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