MAGICAL MULLINS
Jockey steals the show at Leopardstown with grade one three-timer
AS a keen follower of motorsport, Danny Mullins once clocked 150 miles per hour behind the wheel in the Wexford Rally.
Yesterday, in front of a record attendance of 20,017 at Leopardstown, his career grade one needle shot into overdrive.
From a standing start of zero for the season before the off, Mullins chalked up his 24th, 25th and 26th grade one wins inside 100 minutes.
His dazzling 524/1 treble aboard Dancing City (16/1), Kargese (7/2) and Il Etait Temps (6/1), all for his uncle, Willie, saw the Dublin Racing Festival re-named the Danny Racing Festival.
As he took the chequered flag, Mullins reflected on the comparisons between F1 and being a jump jockey.
‘The tactics in F1 offer transferable skills into racing,’ he said.
‘Take fuel consumption through a race for a driver. It’s the same for the fuel tank in a horse. You’ve got to judge that yourself. You’ve also hairpin corners, where it’s slow in, fast out.
‘There are a lot of skills F1 drivers have that I’d like to keep sharpening myself riding horses. It comes back to balance and rhythm.
‘I’ve not been to a F1 Grand Prix yet. Maybe one day. Anything with high adrenalin I’d be a fan of,’ he grinned.
His adrenaline was certainly gushing as winner followed winner in the first three races on the card.
‘To be riding a treble in grade ones in one of the elite meetings, this is as good as it gets,’ said Mullins after he seized the day’s honours.
‘I’d been averaging five grade ones a season. It’s an unrealistic target that you’ll get that every season. To get three on the board is fantastic.
‘I’ve been riding good horses all season and knocking on the door over Christmas. You never lose faith. We work all year to try and tee up these days.’
Mullins, 31, is one of the hardest grafters in the weigh-room, and is no stranger to punishing gym sessions in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, to ensure he passes his NCT.
‘I do a lot of work to prolong my career. Anyone can ride a horse on a given day but to be consistent through a season you need to be physically and mentally strong.
‘Maybe I’m not having as many rides as I used to do but I’m busier on the big days now.’
Yesterday was one of those ‘big days’ and Mullins outshone stable jockey Paul Townend in the first three grade ones on the card, before the latter delivered on Galopin Des Champs in the €250,000 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup
‘Sometimes the ball bounces your way, sometimes it doesn’t,’ he said modestly.
The ball broke for Mullins as Townend opted to ride other Mullins horses in the opening races.
Predators Gold (evens favourite) was beaten one and half lengths by Dancing City in the opening Lacy & Partners Novice Hurdle, with Storm Heart (9/4 favourite) the same distance behind Kargese in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
‘I thought my best ride of weekend was Kargese,’ said Mullins. ‘She was very much on her toes at Christmas and would have burnt a lot of petrol early in the race. She settled today. The way it came together she got to show her true colours.
‘Il Etait Temps is a very solid horse. As a second season novice, he collected a grade one here last year. He likes Leopardstown and looks to be improving.’
The shock in the Goffs Arkle Chase wasn’t so much about Mullins on Il Etait Temps chinning Found A Fifty in the final 100 yards but the eclipse of Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale, who lost his unbeaten record.
Carrying his head high and slightly to one side, the 4/7 favourite was a well beaten fourth. ‘He didn’t show up. He’s better than that,’ said a disappointed rider, Michael O’Sullivan.
For trainer Willie Mullins, this was another landmark day as his horses scooped all four grade ones races and banked over €500,000.
‘It’s tremendous prize-money and tremendous racing here in Leopardstown,’ he said.
‘Some people think the Gold Cup is a trial for Cheltenham but for me it’s a race in its own right. All the races need to be respected and raced for. I bring my best horses here to do that.’
The top dog in Closutton is Galopin Des Champs who has now won each of the seven chases he’s completed – all grade ones too.
The eight-year-old lifted his career earnings close to €1.1m with a four and a half length success over Fastorslow to retain his Irish Gold Cup crown and gave Mullins a 13 th win in the race.
After a bold frontrunning display under Townend, Galopin galloped through the line and beyond. On this evidence, he will take all the beating at Cheltenham next month.
To be riding a treble in grade ones at an elite meeting... it’s as good as it gets