Cowra previews: Murphy chasing double play ahead of Finals challenge

Trainer Pat Murphy heads to Cowra on Monday with the fancied six-year-old duo Prince Papa and Great Week engaged.

Pat Murphy has two strong hopes at Cowra on Monday

PAT Murphy will take time out from counting down to his Country Championships Final debut to take two of his stable to Cowra on Monday.

Murphy has found what could prove to be the ‘perfect race’ for the six-year-old pair, Prince Papa and Great Week.

Prince Papa resumes in the Webb’s Transport Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m), aiming to redress his so far inconclusive, even underwhelming, first-up record.

But what may read poorly on paper is a far cry to what the son of Casino Prince is dishing out on the turf ahead of his return.

“Best he’s ever been,’’ Murphy said.

FIELDS AND FORM COWRA MONDAY

“He’s had an absolutely faultless preparation. I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t show that on Monday.

“Since I got the horse there has always had some little niggle here or there while I was trying to learn about him.

“Hopefully I will learn a bit more about him again on Monday but I expect him to run a really, really good race.

“The 1200m might be the one thing, if he is coming up for air, because he hasn’t had a trial.

“He has done enough work and it is the best he has gone. If it was 1100m I would be declaring him.’’

Prince Papa was bred (in partnership) by Greg Bennett who trained the gelding’s dam, On My Papa, which was nothing short of an iron horse in her day.

The daughter of Dane Shadow raced 70 times, winning eight races and placing on 23 occasions.

“Prince Papa is very consistent for a horse that, as I said, has niggles,’’ says Murphy.

“He’s had a faultless preparation so you could see a completely different horse this time as well.’’

While Prince Papa will be striving for his first win in 2025, his stablemate Great Week heads to Cowra on a hat-trick after clean bowling his rivals at Queanbeyan and Moruya at his last two appearances.

“I’m very happy with the horse,’’ Murphy said.

“He is just going very well.

“He is doing what he needs to do and he’s just in a really good place.

“He had a little gallop (on Saturday morning) just to tick him over. I think it is a lovely race for him.”

Great Week has been ridden in his last two, all the way and commanding victories by talented apprentice Jessica Brookes who will be aboard the $10,000 Inglis Online purchase’s back again on Monday.

“Jessica has done the hard yards, she has been working for me in the morning so it is good to repay her,’’ Murphy said. “And the results have been speaking for themselves.”

Great Week will have no peer at Cowra when it comes to pedigree.

Bred by global goliaths Yu Long, Great Week is a son of the unbeaten champion Frankel out of a Shamardal daughter of triple English stakes-winner, Sweet Lilly.

Murphy meanwhile is now almost within a month of participating in his first Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick.

The former apprentice jockey to the late Guy Walter, Murphy will be represented in the April 5, $1 million 1200m feature, by the $51 shot, Sass ‘N’ Cheek.

“She is down to trial on Tuesday at Goulburn and then trial at Canberra exactly ten days out from the Championship race,’’ Murphy reported.

“I am extremely happy with her. It’s just about timing now but I think the two trials will just do her well.

“The Wildcard would have worked nice being a month between runs but no we don’t have to go there, I think two trials would be ideal.

“That’s what she wants.”

Originally published as Cowra previews: Murphy chasing double play ahead of Finals challenge