Internationally acclaimed horseman Danny Murphy, aged 61, is set to forge his own path in the racing world, having obtained a training license to operate from the esteemed Rossmore Cottage Stables at the Curragh. After a successful five-year tenure working alongside trainer Kieran Cotter, Murphy expressed his gratitude for the owner support that has propelled him to establish his own training business. His extensive international career, marked by over 1,000 winners across racing hubs like Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, and the UAE, now transitions to a new phase in Ireland.
Murphy’s inaugural runner under his new Irish license was the ex-Cotter-trained juvenile, Ocean Baroque, who secured victory in a €50,000 nursery over six furlongs at Cork on Tuesday. Reflecting on this milestone, Murphy shared his enthusiasm for his independent venture. “Kieran and I had some great successes over the past few years and I’m now looking forward to the future with my own operation,” he stated in an interview with The Irish Field. “I’ve been home five years now and we were probably getting too big at Kieran’s, so it was time to go out on my own. We started out with 12 boxes and had grown as big as 35 boxes.”
The decision to launch his own stable was bolstered by unexpected owner backing. “To be honest, when I first came home I didn’t think I’d get the support to be in the position to do this but I’m delighted to have the backing of owners. Thankfully there has been a demand there,” Murphy commented. He also noted a shift in the stable’s perceived specialization, stating, “I would also say that we had a name for being sprint trainers but when Matilda Picotte finished third in this year’s 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, it was an indicator that we wanted to get into a better type of horse.” This ambition fuels his focus on recruiting high-quality horses with an eye on future trading opportunities.
Rossmore Cottage Stables itself carries a rich racing legacy, having been the training ground for Adrian Keatley, who sent out Jet Setting to win the Irish 1000 Guineas in 2016 before relocating to Britain. For Murphy, the location holds a deep personal significance, connecting him to his family’s history in racing. “I had a great time abroad for 35 years but it feels right to be home,” he shared. “The great Darkie Prendergast trained at Rossmore Cottage before and my own father served his time there too. When I’m walking down the barn at night, I have Darkie on one side and my father on the other. They’re with me and I’m asking for a bit of guidance!”
Murphy is particularly impressed with the world-class training facilities available at the Curragh. “I can’t get over the quality of the training facilities at the Curragh,” he said. “When you’re on a small farm you can ride out three or four lots on the same grounds, whereas when you go by on two horses there’s someone behind you lightening-quick on the tractor to roll the surface. It’s like an absolute carpet. On the whole, I feel these facilities increase the chances of building stamina in horses. The facilities on the yard here are very good too, including a water walker.”
Currently, 20 out of the 34 stables at Rossmore Cottage are occupied, but Murphy emphasized that there is ample space for new owners to join his operation. He is optimistic about the future, with plans to be actively involved at Dundalk over the winter with a team of 10 to 12 horses. The stable will also benefit from the assistance of apprentice Oisin McSweeney, and Murphy is building a dedicated young team eager to learn and develop. “I’m excited for the future and we’ll look to be busy at Dundalk over the winter with 10 or 12 horses. Oisin McSweeney will ride as apprentice to me and we’ve got a young team who are eager to learn and progress,” he concluded.
