Willie Mullins

Kovanis (Fr) (Tunis {Pol}), one of 10 lots to bring £100,000 or more during Friday's Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale, topped proceedings at £330,000 to Gordon Elliott Racing. Consigned by Gerald Quinn's Caherty Stables, lot 8 won on debut in a Portrush point-to-point and is from the same family as Friday's G2 Cheltenham Schloer Chase hero Jonbon (Fr) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) and Grade 3 hurdle winner Discover D'Auteuil (Fr) (Mistigri {GB}). "He is a nice horse, he has come well recommended and he travelled in his race like a...

This year's G2 Lonsdale Cup winner Vauban (Fr) is set to continue his racing career in Australia, having been purchased by Australian Bloodstock, in partnership with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, for a rumoured fee of around A$2 million (€1.23 million). The news was confirmed by Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett on Wednesday. Previously trained by Willie Mullins, Vauban had been expected to return to Ireland in preparation for a tilt at the G1 Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the scene of his first major success for Mullins and owner...

Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), the beaten favourite in last year's G1 Melbourne Cup, is reported to have settled in well at the quarantine facility in Werribee as he warms up for a second assault on the race on Tuesday, November 5, with connections hoping the busier campaign he's had in 2024 will ensure that he arrives at Flemington in peak condition. Trained by Willie Mullins, Vauban was having his first start for three months when finishing down the field behind Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in 2023, but this...

Set to go Thursday, Aug. 29, the ThoroughBid August Online auction has attracted over 40 lots, the company announced via presser on Friday. The catalogue is a mix of National Hunt prospects, drafts from Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, horses in and out-of-training, and several Flat prospects as well as a well-bred yearling and the Judy Craymer dispersal of racing and breeding stock. Going live from 9:00a.m., the lots will finish at two-minute intervals from 12:00p.m. For the full catalogue and to register to bid, please go to the ThoroughBid...

One of the first indicators as to how strong the middle tiers of the European yearling market will be this autumn was provided at the V2 session of the August Sale at Arqana where a Starspangledbanner (Aus) filly led the way at €115,000 when sold to Arthur Hoyeau. The filly was consigned by Charles Brière's Fairway Consignment and was one of only two yearlings to break the six-figure barrier, the other being a Siyouni (Fr) filly that was sold to Nicolas de Watrigant on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing for...

In the absence of Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks already had an open feel before Ryan Moore decided to give up the ride on the winner of one of this Classic's key pointers in Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Two of the last five Irish Oaks heroines had captured the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes en route, so the rejection of such a promising and unexposed winner of that Royal Ascot feature can only point to the strong claims of his pick from the Ballydoyle trio. Much more...

A total of 14 fillies will line up for Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, with Ballydoyle responsible for two live contenders in the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes winner Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes third Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with Ryan Moore siding with the latter on Thursday. Wayne Lordan will partner Port Fairy, due to renew rivalry with Elwick Stud's supplemented Lava Stream (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who was runner-up in that Royal Ascot contest. Moore explained his decision on his betfair blog, "Content...

Top-notch jumps prospects lit up day two of the Arqana summer sale on Wednesday where top French agent Bertrand Le Metayer went to €450,000 to secure the promising Mambonumberfive (Fr) (Born To Sea {Ire}) (lot 526), who was second in a valuable three-year-old hurdle at Auteuil when last seen. Trained by Francois Nicolle, Mambonumberfive was consigned by Eric Ventrou, who was left visibly emotional by topping the sale. He said, "I had three weeks to prepare him so I was a little bit shocked. We did what we could but...

It was a day that had everything. From Rosallion landing the St James's Palace S. to yet another Australian sprinter showing the Euros how it's done, day one of the royal meeting did not disappoint. Here are some of the talking points.   Faux Pas For The French Anyone who backed the French raiders Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) in the Queen Anne knew pretty early that they were not going to get off to a winning start at the royal meeting....

It was only a year ago that Wathnan Racing first came to prominence during Royal Ascot following their high-profile purchases of subsequent Gold Cup and Queen's Vase winners Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}). It was revealed in TDN that the Emir of Qatar was behind the new name on the scene, and it is one of which we have heard plenty in the intervening 12 months. Since then, the operation's bloodstock agent Richard Brown has been busy both at public auctions and in...

The 2023/2024 Irish National Hunt champions were crowned at Punchestown on Saturday, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) announced. After a close tussle, Jack Kennedy earned his first Irish Champion Jockey title, just edging out Paul Townend, who was aiming for his seventh year-end award. The full list of champions for the 2023/2024 National Hunt season are as follows: Champion Owner: JP McManus Champion Trainer: Willie Mullins Champion Jockey: Jack Kennedy Champion Conditional: Danny Gilligan Champion Amateur: Patrick Mullins Champion Lady Amateur: Jody Townend HRI chief executive, Suzanne Eade, said, "It has...

Willie Mullins became the first Irish trainer to take the British National Hunt Trainer's crown in 70 years after his El Fabiolo (Fr) (Spanish Moon) ran second to Jonbon (Fr) (Walk In the Park {Ire}) in the G1 bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday. Mullins also saddled winners Minella Cocooner (Ire) (Flemensfirth) and Impaire Et Passe (Fr) (Diamond Boy {Fr}) to win the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase and the G2 bet365 Select Hurdle, respectively during the bet365 Jumps Finale card. Overall, Mullins trained 28 winners to victories in...