Cercene’s Owner Enjoys ‘Biggest Thrill Of My Whole Life’

[Wandering Eyes]

ASCOT, UK — Plaudits have rightly been dished out to popular 70-year-old trainer Joe Murphy, who notched his first Group 1 victory in sensational style when Cercene outpointed the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Zarigana to land the Coronation Stakes.

Appropriately enough for a daughter of Derby winner Australia, the filly is owned by Queenslander Shane R Stafford, who is now based in Ireland. 

Stafford, who describes himself as “just a boy from the Bush”, said as he was about to be called up to collect his trophy from the King, “This is the biggest thrill of my whole life.”

He continued, “I bought some property in Ireland and we sold our cattle properties in Australia, and we ran into these lovely people. The filly did really well and we received a large offer for her, but I didn't want the Murphys to lose the horse so I bought an extra share so that she was kept in the family.”

Cercene, who had previously run third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas behind Lake Victoria, was sent off at odds of 33/1 at Royal Ascot in the hands of Gary Carroll.

“I've had full faith in this filly, I must say, and I've met some lovely people through the horse, and I think that's important,” Stafford said. 

“I'm overcome. It's hard to talk. I'm deeply saddened that some of my family couldn't come with me but we've got a new granddaughter in Australia and my lovely wife is over there.

“I've had so many messages and missed calls from Australia – it was run at 1.20am and they're all up watching.”

The owner was also represented on Thursday at Ascot by Waterford Flow (Ghaiyyath), trained by Joseph O'Brien, who ran ninth in the King George V Stakes. 

He added, “I've only got two three-year-olds and they've both run at Royal Ascot. I did have a listed winner at Perth in November with a filly I called Cashel Palace after the Magniers' hotel, but this is by far my biggest winner so far. We're just country people and we race horses in the country, and to be here on this occasion is just overwhelming. We're all big royal supporters in our family.”

 

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