Hopes high for Bay City Roller’s Champion bid

Oisin Murphy may have to relinquish his champion jockey crown at Ascot on Saturday, but is “full of confidence” Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up Bay City Roller can still make him a headline act on Qatar Racing British Champions Day.

A Group One winner for the outgoing champion and George Scott at Epsom in the Coronation Cup earlier this year, only the all-conquering Daryz has finished ahead of the thriving four-year-old in his last two appearances, the latter when a gallant second in Europe’s richest middle-distance contest.

Buoyed by the son of New Bay’s proven ability to back-up quickly, the colt is now fancied to make his presence felt among an all-star cast for the Qatar Racing Champions Stakes, where the mighty Calandagan, another Aga Khan-owned and Francis-Henri Graffard trained operator, lies in wait.

Murphy said: “The Champion Stakes is an outstanding race in strength, depth and quality when you think of all the horses who are going to run in it.

“We’re going there full of confidence after the Arc and we know generally he backs up really well from run to run. He’s tough and I would be excited about him for sure.

“George is having an amazing season, but it’s not just been this season, he’s been doing it over the past few seasons and I’m delighted to be connected with him.”

Murphy and Scott will also team up in search of glory on Champions Day with the resurgent Prix du Cadran hero Caballo De Mar in the Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup.

Having shown he was finally over his Gold Cup exertions with a confidence-boosting victory in last month’s Doncaster Cup, he is firmly back to the peak of his powers having outbattled Scandinavia to defend his ParisLongchamp crown less than two week’s ago.

He will now seek what would be a third Group One of the season and fourth overall in a staying contest where Joseph O’Brien’s St Leger hero Highwayman provides intriguing opposition.

“Caballo was very good in France and seems to have come out of it really well,” continued Murphy.

“He travelled super in the Cadran and picked up when I asked him. He had the perfect prep and confidence booster before that in the Doncaster Cup and it felt like the real Caballo in Paris.

“In terms of the opposition though, you have to respect Highwayman in particular getting the weight-for-age. He looked very good in the St Leger and Dylan Browne McMonagle is going to enjoy riding him, I think.”

Like Murphy, Newmarket-based Scott is expecting a big run from Bay City Roller, despite Ascot’s proximity to the Arc.

He told talkSPORT2: “I’m not going to say it’s a free hit because I never see it quite like that, but at the same time I don’t feel like the pressure is on as it was going to Paris.

“It’s not a quick turnaround for him – he thrives on his racing. I’d say it’s a positive more than anything for him.

“If they don’t get the rain, a mile and a quarter on good ground would be a little way off where I’d choose to be, but I’m not making excuses. He’s going to run a big race, I’m sure.”

He added of Caballo De Mar: “He’s had a long year, you can’t get away from that, but he’s happy and is giving us all the right signs.

“He’s taking on a totally different pool of horses, a lot of whom I have a huge amount of respect for.

“I don’t think he likes the ground too soft, so he wouldn’t want too much rain. It’s the end of the year and let’s see what happens, but if he turns up anywhere near his best he should be in the mix.”