MULLINS SPLITS WITH O’LEARY
GORDON ELLIOTT is to be the main beneficiary of Gigginstown Stud’s decision to remove the 60 horses they had with Willie Mullins.
The O’Leary brothers have decided to reduce their training costs, and in the short term are severing ties with Ireland’s champion trainer.
Noel Meade, Henry De Bromhead, Joseph O’Brien and Noel Meade are the others due to benefit from Mullins’ loss.
A statement issued by Gigginstown Stud said: “As we have been unable to reach agreement with Willie Mullins on training fees, we have agreed – with considerable regret – to move the Gigginstown horses to alternative trainers for the coming 2016-17 ® season. Gigginstown wishes to sincerely thank Willie and his staff for the many Grade One races we have won together over the past seven years.
“We hope an agreement can be reached at some time in the future which will allow Willie to resume buying and training more graded winners for us.”
The five most significant horses on the move are Don Poli, Apple’s Jade, Valseur Lido, Outlander and Blow By Blow.
Elliott is to get Don Poli, pictured, a multiple Grade One winner and third in this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
De Bromhead’s intake will, to some extent, make up for the stable stars that left to go to Colin Tizzard last week.