AGENT MURPHY was purchased by the Hollywood Syndicate at the 2018 National Yearling Sale. This colt is sired by What A Winter, out of the dam Al Bella (Al Mufti), and was bred by Ascot Stud.

Name: AGENT MURPHY
Sex: Bay Gelding
Foaled: 03/11/2016
Sire: What A Winter
Mare: Al Bella (Al Mufti)
Breeder: Ascot Stud
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Purchased: National Yearling Sale, April 2018
Pedigree: View here
Record: 24-3-6
Status: Retired

Another exciting young yearling off the National Yearling Sale, by What a Winter. He is one of the more laid back horses I have seen.

He is impeccably bred, from the same family that produced Captain Al, Shadow Dancing and Battlestar Express.

He is currently being broken in and we are excited to see him develop into a quality young colt.

 

Updates – Agent Murphy

 

October 22, 2021
AGENT MURPHY was retired by the Hollywood Syndicate on 22 October 2021. He had 24 starts for three wins and six placings. He will go to Life After Racing in Drummond.

May 10th, 2021
He won a good race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack this afternoon. Alphamikefoxtrot finished second giving the Syndicate another exacta. The son of What A Winter was ridden to perfection by Lyle Hewitson. Well done to trainer Alyson Wright and the breeders Ascot Stud. See the replay here.

April 17th, 2021
He was returning from an 11-week break this afternoon and showed signs of needing the run. He will come on from the run and should strip much fitter next time.

February 1st, 2021
His modest recent form continued today, but it was always going to be tough to overcome that wide draw. He will more than likely step back up to 1400m next time and we’ll be hoping to find a kinder draw to give him more of a chance. See the replay of his run here.

February 22nd, 2020
Winner number 3 for the weekend and 2 for the day. Agent Murphy closed off the meeting with a fine ride by Tristan Godden, in the 8th Race at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. Well done to Alyson Wright for training him and breeders Ascot Stud. This son of What A Winter deserves this.

December 15th, 2019
A nice run by Agent Murphy out at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today. He clearly enjoyed the drop in trip and ran on nicely to pick up second place, beaten by just 0,75-lengths. See the replay below. He runs again this Friday night, in the 9th race at Hollywoodbets Greyville where he should have a good winning chance.

November 13th, 2019
Decent effort by Agent Murphy in the 8th race at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. Unfortunately he was caught a bit flat footed out the stalls and left himself a bit too much to do over the final 400m. Nevertheless, he ran on strongly indicating that his next winning turn is just around the corner. See the replay of his run here.

November 11th, 2019
He has shown good improvement in both of his runs since returning from an 18 week rest, where he was also gelded and he has his peak run on Wednesday 13th November 2019, at Hollywoodbets Greyville. He ran on nicely last time out, when stepping up to the 1400m, despite being a little slow out the gates.

With that said, he should be very effective over this 1200m from another plum draw, with Raymond Danielson jumping back aboard. With more improvement expected this time, he should finish in the first three and we give him a useful win chance as well.

Race-8 (Poly) – R90 000
1200m – 17:15 
Hollywoodbets BRIGHT FUTURE MR 70 HANDICAP
Open
WFA: 3yrs-5kgs 4yrs-0kgs
1 6 Bedazzled Joker 62 74 BA *J Gates -1.5 Alyson Wright
2 3 Agent Murphy 60.5 81 A R Danielson Alyson Wright
3 10 Juniper Lane 60.5 81 BA W Kennedy Kumaran Naidoo
4 7 Captain Cobalt 60.5 71 TBA S Khumalo Lowan Denysschen
5 8 Fly By Skye 60 70 BA *K Sakayi -1.5 Glen Kotzen
6 9 Mokoko 60 70 A S Veale Paul Lafferty
7 2 Maa Nonu 59.5 69 AM T Godden Lezeanne Forbes
8 12 Truly Wicked 59 68 TBA C Zackey Louis Goosen
9 13 At The Opera 58.5 67 A D Dillon Michael Roberts
10 11 Eastbrook 57 64 A G Wright Greg & Karen Anthony
11 1 Rocky Coast 55.5 61 A B Jacobson Frank Robinson
12 4 Rumbleinthejungle 53.5 57 TBA K de Melo Dean Kannemeyer
13 5 Sweet Trial 58 66 A Reserve 1 Roy Magner
Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote
(1,2)

October 14th, 2019
A decent run back by this son of What A Winter. Raymond Danielson mentioned that he definitely wants a bit more ground, having battled with the early speed. With that said, he gave him a nice feel and the run will bring him on a lot for his next start in two weeks time. See the replay of his run here, in the distinguishing red cap:

October 10th, 2019
This son of What A Winter returns to racing this Sunday 13th October 2019, at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse. He returns to the course as a gelding and drops back to a trip where he is much better suited. He has really turned the corner in the past few months, after having an interrupted 2-year-old campaign with a recurring bought of Urticaria. With the 18 week absence from the course, he will just need the run but on ability he has an each-way chance. See the final field below:

Race-8 (Turf) – R90 000
1000m – 17:25 
Hollywoodbets BRIGHT FUTURE MR 79 HANDICAP
Open
WFA: 3yrs-5.5kgs 4yrs-0kgs
1 10 Leslie Shadowliner 61 81 A *Y Ramzan -4.0 R A Hill/S R Hill
2 7 Robberg Express 61 81 AM K de Melo J A Janse van Vuuren
3 2 Blaze Of Silk 60.5 80 A G Wright Corinne Bestel
4 4 Big King 60 79 A S Randolph Greg & Karen Anthony
5 6 Moon Bird 60 79 A C Habib Yadav Singh
6 9 Royal Rustler 59.5 78 A S Khumalo Dennis Bosch
7 5 Mutawaary (AUS) 59 77 BA W Kennedy Dennis Bosch
8 13 Jerry The Juggler 58 75 A S Brown Alyson Wright
9 8 Rocket Fire 57.5 74 T AM M Yeni Duncan Howells
10 12 Candle Cove 57 84 A D Dillon Frank Robinson
11 1 Fives Wild 57 73 BA *J Gates -1.5 Kumaran Naidoo
12 3 Agent Murphy 56.5 83 A R Danielson Alyson Wright
13 11 Panza 52 62 T A *K Sakayi -1.5 Ivan Van Wyk
Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote
(6,7) (8,12)

July 15th, 2019
Disappointing effort in the Gatecrasher (Listed) in his last start. However, he had absolutely no luck in running and the 1400m was a furlong too far for him at this stage. He has just been gelded and will have a short rest, before coming into full training for a spring campaign. See a replay of that last run, here:

June 6th, 2019.
Agent Murphy makes his return, this Saturday 8th June 2019. He was our first 2 year old winner this season, back in mid-January and since then he has had quite an interrupted prep. As far as soundness is concerned, he has no issues but he has suffered from a few illnesses. The latest set back is a recurring bought of Urticaria. He seems to be over that now and just 10 days ago he put up a rather encouraging grass gallop. He comes into this Listed event against some smart individuals and he will need to overcome that wide draw to have any chance. Gavin Lerena is more than capable, but he will most certainly need a bit of luck finding a good early position. He should have a nice place chance. See the final field below:

Race-4 (Turf) – 1400m – 13:20 
GATECRASHER STAKES (Listed) brought to you by EASTERN CAPE RISING SUN
For 2 year-olds
Stake: R150 000
No Apprentice Allowance
1 1 Ehsaan 60 0 A R Simons Mike de Kock
2 12 Agent Murphy 58 0 A G Lerena Alyson Wright
3 3 Alramz 58 0 A A Marcus Mike de Kock
4 5 Bound By Duty 58 0 A S Moodley Michael Miller
5 7 Enjoy The View 58 0 A R Fourie Michael Roberts
6 8 Into The Future 58 0 A G Wright R A Hill/S R Hill
7 6 Kaydens Pride 58 0 A M Yeni Nathan Kotzen
8 11 Special Blend 58 0 A S Randolph Duncan Howells
9 10 Arizona Silk 56 0 T A *L J Ferraris Nathan Kotzen
10 13 Captain Demonami 56 0 A M Khan Lezeanne Forbes
11 9 Justfortheepenny 56 0 A S Veale Nathan Kotzen
12 4 Master Vision 56 0 BA L Hewitson Nathan Kotzen
13 2 Straight 56 0 BA *A Arries Michael Miller
Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote
(1,3) (4,13) (7,9,11,12)

May 10th, 2019
After winning his maiden back in January, he has really come a long way. That maiden victory was in just his second start and he just went slightly backwards for a few weeks, immediately after that run. He has come back with real interest and there is no doubt that his next campaign should add a few more positive stats to his solid career record.

January 20th, 2019
AGENT MURPHY shed his maiden at Scottsville at the second time of asking. Ridden to victory by Anton Marcus. Watch the replay here:

December 30th, 2018
AGENT MURPHY made his track debut at Greyville on Sunday 30th December. He ran 2nd to the impressive Astrix, but we are confident he will turn out better in his next outing. Watch the replay here:

December 6th, 2018
AGENT MURPHY puts up a smart Barrier Trial on Friday. See the replay here.

December 3rd, 2018
AGENT MURPHY has been accepted to run in a barrier trial on Friday 7th December. He is quite a forward colt and we are looking forward to seeing him in the Hollywood Syndicate silks. More to follow later this week.

November 29th, 2018
AGENT MURPHY has been doing very well and we couldn’t be happier with his progress thus far. He is being aimed for a 1000m Juvenile Maiden plate on 30 December 2018, so if all goes to plan we should see him in a barrier trial in the next few weeks. The clip below is of his grass gallop this morning – he is on the grass, on the far side in the red sleeves and cap. 

 

October 4th, 2018
Update on AGENT MURPHY, our What a Winter colt from the National Yearling Sale. He went on the grass for the first time against one of our unraced 3 year olds (Painted Black). Agent Murphy is the one closest to us in the photo (apologies – not the best quality pic). What was encouraging was that it was the first time he has gone around a turn and he did it like a pro.

Agent Murphy cantering on the track with Painted Black

Alyson has been very pleased with his progression and the current expectations are that he is going to be set up for the second juvenile race over 1000m (the first race being over 800m) in Nov / Dec. The first pic attached is of him learning how to stand in the stalls for the first time. As you can see in the photo, he was rewarded with a handful of grass for good behaviour.

Agent Murphy - Colt by What A Winter

September 7th, 2018
He is a particularly exciting young colt, by What a Winter. Over the last 2 months he has really thrived since being broken in.

After not seeing him for a month, he was almost unrecognizable in that he has grown so much around his hind quarter and shoulder. A strong young colt, he is now in full work and we are lining him up for the first 1000m race for 2 year old colts later this year.

If all goes to plan he shouldn’t be a maiden for long.

Agent Murphy - sired by What A Winter. Owned by Hollywoodbets / The Hollywood Syndicate

View other horses owned by the Hollywood Syndicate by clicking here!