Dunnstown’s Murphy brothers double up at Melton
The MURPHYS are one of the trot industry’s best known families in the Ballarat district.
There’s brothers DAVID, JOHN and SHANE – all sons of the late DON MURPHY and all based at Dunnstown.
David (pictured below) has been a prominent trainer-driver for two decades, John mixes training and driving with educating young standardbreds, while Shane operates Mountain View Stud.
As a family they have achieved much.
However, David and John have claimed a family first – each training a double at Melton within a few days of each other.
John kicked it off on Monday, November 27.
He won with 4yo trotter EOGHAN OMAILLE ($4.90) and 4yo pacer OSCAR BRAVO ($3.10 favourite).
For Eoghan Omaille, which was also bred by and is owned by John Murphy, this was the gelding’s first win after four career starts.
The gelding comes from one of the Ballarat region’s most prolific winning families, which goes back to the 1950s and foundation broodmare Pacing Oro, and features Fawlty (10 wins), Adare (22 wins), Galway (23 wins), Ardee (11 wins) and Clarrie Storm (8 wins).
Oscar Bravo’s success was his first in nine starts.
He also hails from regional bloodlines, being out of Digger Almahurst mare Margaret Eden, which won eight times for David Murphy and has now left two winners.
Oscar Bravo’s grand broodmare Island Way (5 wins) produced six winners, including Petite Walton (11 wins). The family also features Tasma Walton (44 wins) and Amsat (9 wins), Mystic Wonder (9 wins) and Island Kid.
Then it was David Murphy’s turn for a double at Melton on Friday, December 1.
6yo mare NANASTAR ($66.60) and 7yo trotting mare EUREKA ENCOUNTER ($4) book ended the race meeting.
This gives Nanastar three career wins and a resilient Eureka Encounter seven in 98 starts for just shy of $50,000 in stakes.
Eureka Encounter is also from a family which has churned out many winners going back to the 1980s, including Shanna Golden, Fiery Walbro, Navigator Walbro, Pass The Mustard, Finegans Wake, Me Dolli Kit and No Shennagans – an that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
