Mystery surrounds the termination yesterday of Johnny Murtagh’s contract as retained jockey for the Aga Khan’s Irish-trained horses.

Johnny Murtagh’s contract as retained rider for the owner’s Irish-trained horses has been terminated, according to the Aga Khan’s Irish stud farm manager, Pat Downes.

Princess Highway will attempt to emulate her dam Irresistible Jewel in Royal Ascot’s Ribblesdale Stakes following a convincing win in the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms Blue Wind Stakes in Naas.

Johnny Murtagh has been retained to ride all of the Aga Khan’s Irish-trained horses in 2011.

CHAMPION jockey Johnny Murtagh, who returned to action after a six-day suspension on the ill-fated Age Of Aquarius at Goodwood last Thursday, regained the winning habit when doubling up on two-year-olds Lake Ontario and Lightening Thief at Naas yesterday.

Rosanara will miss tomorrow’s Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh after suffering a knock during her trip to Ireland.

High-class five-year-old Manduro is likely to tackle the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20.

Alexandrova is a red-hot favourite to make it a hat-trick of big-race wins in tomorrow’s Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York.

CONNECTIONS of Visindar are delighted preparations have gone smoothly ahead of the ante-post favourite’s bid to land a first Vodafone Derby success for France in 30 years.

CONNECTIONS of Visindar do not anticipate the unique track or the big-race ballyhoo being a problem for the Vodafone Derby favourite at Epsom on Saturday week.

ALAMSHAR is set to have the final race of his career at Newmarket on Saturday week after being sold to stand at stud in 2004.

DALAKHANI is as short as 4-9 favourite with Paddy Power (4-6 with Cashmans) for the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.

A mouth-watering prospect is on the cards at the Curragh on Sunday week when Vodafone Derby hero Kris Kin could clash with Dalakhani, the winner of the Prix du Jockey-Club, in the Budweiser Irish Derby.