The Derby dream is alive for Gundagai trainer Michael Murphy with Merlin Mustang scoring a fighting win against older horses at Rosehill on Saturday.
The three-year-old ran a determined third to Gai Waterhouse’s leading Australian Derby contender Laser Hawk over 1500 metres a week ago and handled the wet track with aplomb on Saturday to win the Willis Australia Handicap (1800m).
Sent out the $4.40 favourite, the frontrunner held off the challenge from On Every Level ($41) by a long head with Iron Lace ($26) another 4-1/4 lengths away third.
“I was very confident he would handle the wet,” Murphy said.
“He made a big step up today and I think he can extend to 2400 metres.
“Laser Hawk showed there might be a gap among the staying three-year-olds and although Merlin Mustang has been up a while if he keeps going like he is he could get there.
“There is a Listed 2000-metre race at Randwick in two weeks so we will go there.”
Murphy has a team of seven in work and said he was lucky to be able to train Merlin Mustang.
“I train privately for Tony and Bill Barton who are businessmen in Gundagai,” he said.
“They kindly let me train this one outside of their team.”
Murphy comes from a long line of footballers rather than horse trainers with his father Rex a lock for the now defunct North Sydney NRL team.
“I played lower grades for Manly in the early `90s but never reached the heights,” Murphy said.
The Australian Derby (2400m) is on April 14 at Randwick.