Oisin Murphy, racing’s newest sensation.

Oisin Murphy, racing’s newest sensation.

For many years, Ireland’s pony racing circuit has been the bedrock of future champions.

Mick Kinane, Norman Williamson, Adrian Maguire, Norman Williamson, Waterford’s Tom Queally, to name but a few, plied their trade riding ponies before going on to incredible success on the track.

Oisin Murphy, the latest rising star of the weighroom, is certainly putting the experience honed on the pony racing circuit to excellent use as he builds his career.

Now based cross-channel with Andrew Balding the 18 year-old nephew of Gold Cup and Grand National winning jockey Jim Culloty completed a fortnight to remember when he won the Grade 2 Temple Stakes on the Kevin Ryan trained Hot Steak at Haydock on Saturday.

It was the young jockey’s eighth winner in two weeks and his first Group success. Murphy spectacularly announced his arrival as a jockey of tremendous potential at Ayr last September when he recorded a stunning 9,260/1 four-timer which included victory in the Ayr Gold Cup on Highland Colori.

He followed up with a successful stint in Australia over the winter months with 13 winners before returning to Andrew Balding’s yard in Berkshire.

This time last year Oisin Murphy had yet to ride his first winner on the track but since his first success in mid- June he has ridden 78 winners and is set to lose his apprentice weight allowance (95 wins) faster than any other flat jockey since the rules were amended in 1992.