Honest jockey Oisin Murphy places cricket finger-snapper Clicky Ponting to disgrace
‘Class act’ Murphy accepts defeat despite his horse being hampered on TV as bookies claim racing has taken over from cricket as ultimate sport for sticking to the rules
Oisin Murphy(Image: Getty Images)
Top jockey Oisin Murphy has put cricket finger-snapper Clicky Ponting to shame – after losing a race for being too honest.
Stewards launched an inquiry after Murphy’s mount missed out on the £38,655 prize for winning the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap in front of a TV audience at Glorious Goodwood.
His mount Hatteen was beaten by a head by 2-1 favourite Infraad ridden by Tom Marquand in the horse racing showpiece.
But stewards considered handing Murphy the win after Infraad rode off line hampering him in the dash to the finish.
Both jockeys were hauled in to explain what happened.
Marquand, 28, admitted his horse was a ‘little bit green’ and had ‘wobbled around a bit’.
But Murphy played down the infraction saying Infraad was just a ‘bit more babyish’.
In a remarkable show of sportsmanship he said: “We never made contact. I didn’t know Tom’s horse had shifted until quite close to the line.
Infraad (far side) and Hatteen finished just a head apart at Goodwood(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire. Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder)
“I can’t for any certainty say I would have won if Tom’s horse hadn’t shifted out.”
The stewards let the result stand – leaving Murphy in second place.
Bizarrely Murphy, 30, was then trolled online for not trying to get his fellow jockey disqualified.
One racing account posted on X: “Whether it’s the correct call or not, that was disgraceful from Oisin Murphy in the stewards.
“You argue a case for the people you are riding for, not go in there saying ‘there is nothing to see here’.”
Five-time champion jockey Murphy saw it differently, replying: “I felt my horse had every chance in the race. He went a head up about a furlong out.
“I believe Tom Marquand did everything he could to stay straight.
“I do not believe I should’ve lied in order to attempt to have the result called in my favour.
“I wouldn’t want it happening to me.”
His honesty was welcomed by the majority of racing fans and ITV viewers.
Brian Devine at centre of Clicky Ponting scandal(Image: X)
One wrote to him: “You’re a class act, Oisin. It was so refreshing to see a bit of honesty in the stewards’ room. I didn’t have money on either horse but in my opinion the outcome was correct.
“I wish more sportsmen and women would follow your example.”
It comes after village cricketer Brian Devine sparked a global storm over claims he got opponents caught out by clicking his fingers to fake the sound of the ball brushing the bat on the way to the wicketkeeper’s gloves.
He has been suspended and his team Saltburn Cricket Club 2nd XI is under investigation over claims it used the trick to cheat its way to the top of the North Yorkshire and South Durham League.
Cricket fans around the world – led by TV host Piers Morgan – were horrified by the scandal.
Morgan said Devine – who he dubbed ‘Clicky Ponting’ in a play on the name of legendary Australian batsman Ricky – ‘must be the biggest cheat in cricket history’.
One top bookmaker told the Daily Star: “Oisin’s attitude will be no surprise to anyone who knows him. He’s a wonderful jockey and true sportsman.
“Cricket used to be the ultimate sport for sticking to the rules. How many times have we heard the phrase, ‘that’s just not cricket’?
“Maybe from now on it should be, ‘that’s just not racing’.”
