3 minutes Danny Mullins Triumphs with Kargese, Setting the Stage for a Showdown with Sir Gino
On a splendid Saturday, for a brief period exceeding an hour, Danny Mullins was undeniably crowned as the champion of the jump racing world, achieving an impressive 535-1 Grade 1 triple victory on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival. Among these victories, his win aboard the promising filly Kargese in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle was particularly noteworthy. Demonstrating a pattern of resilience and skill, Willie Mullins' nephew has consistently proven himself as an exceptional substitute jockey, adeptly claiming opportunities that arise in the wake of Paul Townend's choices.
The spotlight this time was on Kargese, who mirrored the trajectory of the previous year's winner, Gala Marceau. Both faced setbacks in the Grade 2 race at this venue during the Christmas season, only to return with marked improvements to clinch this prestigious event decisively. Owned by Kenny Alexander, both horses' journeys bear striking resemblances.
Gala Marceau, after her performance here, went on to secure the second place behind Lossiemouth in the Triumph Hurdle. In a similar vein, Kargese has now positioned herself as a significant contender against Sir Gino, buoyed by market confidence that saw her odds being adjusted from 12-1 to 6-1 by Betfair and Paddy Power, following a victory over her well-regarded stablemate Storm Heart by a margin.
Acknowledging the formidable challenge ahead, Willie Mullins stated, "It's going to be hard to beat Nicky Henderson's horse, Sir Gino. We have our work cut out with him," reflecting on the aftermath of achieving a remarkable 1-2-3-4 finish. Mullins shared insights on the winning strategy for Kargese, highlighting a shift from her overly eager behavior during the Christmas race to a more calculated approach that led to success. "She was too keen with Danny at Christmas. The plan today was to make the running and it just shows you that we don't even know what we're doing at this stage! Next thing Mark [Walsh] jumped out and made the running. His horse was galloping so Danny settled the filly in and she was much more settled today after blowing away the cobwebs at Christmas," Mullins elaborated.
While Storm Heart, Majborough, and Bunting did not win, Mullins expressed optimism about their futures, indicating potential for significant improvement and success in upcoming races. "Mark was very happy with Majborough and thinks he'll improve for that run. He gallops and jumps and he's more of a chaser to look at. Paul felt that Storm Heart probably got stuck in the ground and was a bit keen with him as well. I was delighted with the way Bunting stayed on from behind, he was doing his best work at the end and is improving as well," said Mullins.
Facing Sir Gino in the Triumph Hurdle will be a formidable challenge for Mullins' quartet, underscoring the competitive nature of the event. Danny Mullins humorously recounted his tactical shift during the race, "Plan A was to make the running, but that was out the window by the time I got around the first bend. I'd say Willie was watching me coming across the top wondering when the alarm clock was going to go off?! We got a good jump again at the second last to put us back where I wanted to be. I didn't want to use that petrol to get a position leaving the back, I wanted to use it to win."
This strategy paid dividends, securing Kargese's position as a genuine contender for the Triumph Hurdle. The ultimate test against Sir Gino is awaited with anticipation, only time will determine her capability to surpass this challenge.