From Carats To Carrots For 'murph'
The Age
Monday February 10, 2003
Murphy's Blu Boy will head home to Goondiwindi later today after trainer Mick Hicks officially ended the youngster's $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes campaign.
Showing no signs of disappointment, Hicks said that Murphy's Blu Boy's defeat in Saturday's Blue Diamond Prelude was ``part of racing".
``When you think about it, he's never had a rest since he came home from the breakers six months ago," Hicks said.
``He's pretty tender, he's pretty battle weary. We'll take him home now and give him a proper break.
``The Blue Diamond's out and if the Golden Slipper is in he's not going to get much of a break. I'll just sleep on that."
Murphy's Blu Boy, starting at prohibitive odds in the Blue Diamond Prelude, shocked the racing world when he was run down by the John Hawkes-trained Hammerbeam.
``I don't like looking for excuses but I'll tell you this much," Hicks said. ``I backed Hammerbeam when it won at Randwick back in the spring and as soon as the horse won, Hawkes put it out in the paddock.
``That's where the difference is. He had a nice little break. My bloke's been hard at it since the word go."
Hicks said that while the horse's two new part-owners, Brian and Geoff Roddy, who paid $700,000 for a 49 per cent stake in Murphy's Blu Boy, had no say in the horse's plans, they had handled the defeat well.
Hicks believes that he can have Murphy's Blu Boy in a Toowoomba veterinary clinic by tomorrow afternoon to have his shin soreness looked at.
``Some vets have suggested after we clear up his shins we should push on with him. I just don't know what we'll do there," Hicks said.
Markets have been turned upside down by Murphy's Blu Boy's defeat, with two Sydney two-year-olds now heading the market for Saturday week's Blue Diamond Stakes.
Bookmaker Michael Eskander has How Funny and Kusi equal favourites at $4. He has Murphy's Blu Boy on the second line of betting at $4.50 as a precautionary move in case the horse did start in the group 1 race.
Hicks said the Melbourne racing public would see a rejuvenated horse next spring.
``The media, the public and everyone involved with the horse have been fantastic. He won't let you down when he comes back," Hicks said.
$1 MILLION BLUE DIAMOND STAKES MARKET
$4 How Funny, Kusi
$4.50Murphy's Blu Boy
$6 Halibery
$7 Rodean
$10 Ra Sun
$13 Scaredee Cat
$16 Hammerbeam
$20 Rinky Dink
© 2003 The Age
