Murphy swapping the big freeze for big Saturday in South Africa

Oisin Murphy is looking forward to a return to South Africa this weekend, for a full book of rides on one of the country’s biggest days in the calendar at Kenilworth.

The five-time champion jockey was among the winners on the King’s Plate Card 12 months ago, steering the Justin Snaith-trained Sail The Seas – who is part-owned by legendary golfer Gary Player – to victory in the final race of the day.

A year on, Murphy is escaping the freezing temperatures of Britain and heading back to the Cape Town circuit ahead of further foreign trips to Saudi Arabia, Dubai and India.

Speaking to the Press Association on Monday, Murphy said: “There are 10 races and I’ve got a ride in every race.

“I had a winner at the meeting last year on a horse called Sail The Seas, who has improved a bit since and is actually running in the big race this time around, but I’m not partnering him.

“Most of my rides are for Justin Snaith, it’s a big day’s racing and it would be great if I could get on the scoresheet.

“I have lots of foreign trips at this time of year, but it was lovely to be asked to go down (to South Africa) and ride there and I’ll make the most of it.”