IT was another week of records, trophies and championships for Wille Mullins as the Punchestown Festival brought the curtain down on a truly astonishing National Hunt season for the Closutton maestro.
Victory for State Man last Friday, his fifth Grade 1 victory, was Mullins’ 4,378 winner that he has trained around the world, breaking the long standing Irish record held by Dermot Weld.
Willie Mullins, son Patrick Mullins and wife Jackie
Photo: ©INPHO/Tom Maher
Mullins said it was privilege to burst past Weld’s tally.
“(It’s) fantastic to be up there alongside Dermot Weld. Dermot’s record is unbelievable. I’ll never do what he did. He won the first Melbourne Cup (by a European trainer), he went across and won the Belmont Stakes (in America); there’s stuff that he did that no other people will. Hopefully we’ll break it this week but numbers are there to be broken and I’m just delighted to be up there in the same league as Dermot Weld.”
It didn’t take long for Mullins to extend his new record with Ballyburn winning later on Friday evening and then a treble following on Saturday.
After the excitement of the final weeks across the water when the British Trainer’s title, these wins mattered little in the race for the Irish title, with that championship a forgone conclusion a long time ago.
“It’s fair to say that this has been our best season at home and abroad, and it is a credit to our hardworking and dedicated team that we are celebrating again today. Congratulations to all champions today, especially Jack on winning his first champion jockey title. Jack and Paul put up a brilliant battle to the very last day of the season – they are both fine riders. There have been any number of highlights but our winners at Dublin Racing Festival and at Punchestown this week are some of the standouts. Our owners have been fantastic and I trust that they are enjoying it all as much as we are,” said Mullins, while collecting the award at the end of the Festival on Saturday as he has done every year since 2009.
Mullins’ son Patrick also picked up an award as the winning Irish Amateur jockey title.
“The title is the aim every year and can’t be taken for granted. Willie has had a super year and I’m just happy to be tagging along! There are some great horses at home and to be associated with the likes of Gaelic Warrior and Mystical Power and so many more this season is a privilege. 1,000 winners is still the goal and I’ll be keeping my head down to see if we can get there in the not-too-distant future,” said Patrick.
Patrick Mullins is presented with the Champion Amateur trophy by Minister for State in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon
Photo: ©INPHO/Tom Maher
Although Paul Townend was beaten to the jockey’s title by Jack Kennedy, his sister Jody picked up the Champion Lady Amateur award after winning her first Grade 1 race last week with Redemption Day.
Winning on Redemption Day earlier this week for my first Grade 1 was very special for me and it rounded off a great season. I get to ride some fantastic horses and I get some great opportunities and there’s no doubt that I’m in the right place being in Closutton every morning. Captain Cody’s win over hurdles at the Fairyhouse Easter festival was another super day as was winning on Fleur Au Fusil at the Dublin Racing Festival. I can’t thank Willie (Mullins) and all his owners enough for the backing they give me.”
