RACING:Patrick Mullins edged closer to making history as victory aboard the impressive Mozoltov at Gowran Park left him just three away from breaking the record for the number of winners in a calendar year for an amateur rider.
Mullins headed to Co Kilkenny on the 69-winner mark for the year and with a fantastic book of four rides for his father, champion trainer Willie Mullins.
Although out of luck on his first ride aboard Upazo, the talented jockey struck gold an hour later as smart bumper horse Mozoltov won as a 1 to 4 favourite should when scoring by 24 lengths in the Students Day At Gowran Park 2013 – Tuesday April 9th Maiden Hurdle.
The winning trainer said: “He jumped well but he was a bit keen. He’ll go for a novice now, probably after Christmas. He’s a big horse but he’d go over any trip. Hopefully he’ll win more hurdles but he has the makings of a chaser.”
The rider appeared to have good chances of adding to his tally later in the day, but Champagne Agent was a disappointing favourite in the Gowran Park Racing Club 2013 Maiden Hurdle won by 33 to 1 chance Dante Anna and Super Mix was second to 25 to 1 shot Kick On Boss in the bumper.
Mullins is now two winners behind Billy Parkinson, who rode 72 in a year as an amateur in 1915, and looks sure to surpass that number if he stays injury free between now and the new year. Mullins and Upazo had to make do with the runner-up spot in the Race That Stops A County – Jan 24th Thyestes 2013 Maiden Hurdle as fellow 5 to 4 joint-favourite Umpact made an impressive Irish debut. The Tony Martin-trained French bumper winner eased clear of his main rival under Davy Russell and passed the post five and a half lengths to the good.
Pat Flynn has Cheltenham ambitions for South South West (4 to 1) after he got back on the winning trail in the three-year-old Hurdle under Andrew McNamara.
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