MURRAY HOPING HIS FORTUNES ARE ABOUT TO TURN FOR THE BETTER

EVERY cloud has a silver lining!

At least Kembla Grange trainer Paul Murray is hoping that metaphor rings true in the coming months.

Alas Murray had to retire his talented mare Welcometobarbados (five wins from nine starts) with a tendon injury, which came on top of an earlier setback which ruled her out of the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick in April this year.

A truly bargain buy at $700, the South Australian-bred daughter of Redoute’s Choice stallion Barbados had beaten Lord Of Biscay and Matcha Latte (who subsequently ran the quinella in the Final in reverse order) in a Newcastle Qualifier (1400m) on March 1.

Welcometobarbados also won a Canberra trial (900m) on April 2 (only 10 days before the Final), and unfortunately was found to be lame only a few days before her big assignment.

“Welcometobarbados came back after a break and bowed a tendon,” Murray said today.

“We could have tried to bring her back into work again down the track, but the vet said the injury was too far gone and would probably go again if we did that.

“It was tragic but thankfully we were able to get her a booking with Flying Artie at stud.”

Though he missed out this year, Murray is keen to have another crack at the PMC series next autumn, this time with Harry’s Bar.

An $18,000 online purchase in February last year by Murray after she had fetched larger amounts at earlier Magic Millions sales, the Harry Angel mare’s two wins have both been in town (at Canterbury in August last year and Rosehill Gardens in July this year).

She has also been placed on six occasions; five of them in town. The latest was a third to Modella in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on October 11 prior to a short break.

“Harry’s Bar came back to the stables last Monday week,” Murray said.

“Having had only 13 starts so far, we are well inside the conditions (maximum 20 starts) to contest the series.

“The races I am looking to qualify Harry’s Bar for the Final (at Randwick on April 11) are the Gosford 1200m heat on March 14 and Wyong 1350m heat a fortnight later.”

In the interim, Murray is heading to Randwick on Saturday to debut an interesting two-year-old called Where’s The Circus in the $400,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m).

Jean Van Overmeire, who rode Welcometobarbados in the last two wins of her career at Newcastle earlier in the year, takes the mount.

He partnered the well-named Trapeze Artist filly in an 800m barrier trial victory at her home track on December 2.

Murray knew about the family when he purchased Where’s The Circus through Inglis Digital for $1250 as a weanling in September last year.

“I noticed she was for sale online, and bought her as we’ve had a bit to do with fillies from her dam Misplaced (by Fastnet Rock).

“We had Misplaced’s first two fillies Can’t Find Snippy (three wins) and Where’s Snippy (four wins).

“Both were full sisters by Snippetson.”

Misplaced’s only other “girl” to race is Cavallo Rampante (by Menari and trained by Ciaron Maher), and two of her three wins have been in Melbourne (Sandown and The Valley).

“Where’s The Circus is a very athletic filly,” Murray said.

“She goes allright and will give them something to catch.”

. HOOFNOTE: Misplaced foaled a colt by Trapeze Artist in September last year, but passed away in January at 17 years of age.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, DECEMBER 10, 2025