Murphy: Champion Stakes trip not an issue for Bay City Roller

Oisin Murphy is confident Bay City Roller can handle the drop to 10 furlongs for a crack at the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes at Ascot.

George Scott’s four-year-old found only the brilliant Daryz too good in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday, with Murphy navigating his way over from stall 15 in a style reminiscent of Frankie Dettori on Golden Horn in 2015.

Ascot on Champions Day is the only option left for a horse who prefers cut in the ground, although he proved once and for all in France that he is far from a one-trick pony in that regard.

“I was very impressed with the horse’s preparation. He really felt super in the lead-up to the Arc. I was very confident in the prelims that he wouldn’t turn a hair and he broke super,” said Murphy.

“As you’d expect, there was a rush on early for a position for the first few furlongs. Then the pace slowed down and I was able to get in without using up energy. That kind of wide draw ended up being favourable from that point of view.

“Regarding winning the race, I thought it would take a very good horse to beat him because he was able to relax so well, and he was able to fill up for most of the race.

“I knew it would turn into a bit of a dash and he can quicken. So I felt it would take a good horse to beat him from the early stages of the race.

“I didn’t speak to Frankie (before the race), but obviously I’ve spoken to Frankie on nearly a daily basis throughout the years and I’ve watched a lot of Arcs so I had an idea of what I might do.”

Looking towards Champions Day, Murphy said: “I don’t have any issues coming back to a mile and a quarter, he was second to Almaqam in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on quick ground and they ran a very quick time that day. I just feel he’s versatile and I also think he’s improved.

“I also think he’s a better horse now than he’s ever been in his career.”

Murphy was full of praise for Scott, who had a great weekend in Paris with two winners, the Arc second and even Command The Stars placed in a handicap.

“George has done an unbelievable job with all his string, not only with the top horses, with the lesser horses as well,” Murphy told the Press Association.

“That’s not just this season, over the past few years his success has been building and I’m delighted and he’s very good to ride for.

“I feel that we have been lucky to have success together, but I feel we are on the same wavelength and we both want the same thing.”

One of the winners was Caballo De Mar who in repeating his Prix du Cadran win of last year caused a huge shock in beating Scandinavia.

“I think I deserve some of the blame for Caballo De Mar in the middle part of the year,” said an honest Murphy.

“Obviously going back through his form, he looked like a dour stayer but maybe in France I didn’t take enough heed of his turn foot when he won the Group One early in the season, it turned into a proper sprint. I realised that at Doncaster when he showed a good kick and again he showed a very good turn of foot for a staying race in the Cadran.

“I want to affirm that view. Maybe I just needed to realise where the horse’s strengths were and unfortunately it took me a few spins on to really get to know him.

“Of course that puts him in the Gold Cup picture, but that’s a long way away.”