Less than one week after Johnny Murtagh resigned from his position as stable jockey to Coolmore and Aidan O’Brien, the superstar has been retained to ride all of the Aga Khan’s Irish based horses in 2011.

It represents a strange week for the Irish jockey who rode O’Brien’s Recital to success in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on Saturday – a race that looks likely to be his final success for the Coolmore operation.

"I am thrilled to be renewing my association with His Highness' horses in Ireland," Murtagh explained.

"We have shared some fantastic moments over the years and I have always enjoyed riding in the green and red colours.  This will also give me an opportunity to ride for John Oxx again.

"I started off riding for Mr Oxx and it has always been a pleasure to be part of his Currabeg team."

Murtagh was stable jockey to Oxx from 1992 to 2003 and owner Aga Khan is thrilled to have the rider available to ride the ninety horses the trainer has at his stable, along with the twenty Mick Halford has under his command.

"I am delighted to have secured a world-class jockey like Johnny Murtagh as my retained rider in Ireland," explained the Aga Khan.

"We have had some wonderful days in the past and we look forward to renewing our successful association.

"I believe it is vital to the continued success of my bloodstock operation to have a retained jockey in the countries where my horses are trained.

"This has been the situation in France for many years and I am most pleased now to have a similar arrangement in Ireland."