2 days ago
Jockey, 17, jokes he'll quit undefeated after beating Patrick Mullins on first ride
Jamie Martin's horse Alaskan View finished ahead of the Mullins-ridden favourite Highland Realm in the Majestic Hotel INH Flat Race at Tramore on Friday evening
A teenage debutant joked he'd 'retire with a 100 per cent strike rate' after beating Patrick Mullins' horse in a flat race at Tramore.
Jamie Martin made the perfect start to his career when his family's horse Alaskan View was the most straightforward in the 2m½f event at the Irish circuit.
The 17-year-old had interchanged the lead with Mullins' mount Highland Realm but teenager Martin took advantage when the rival horse appeared to jump a section of the track and lose concentration.
There was just half-a-length between them at the line and Martin was delighted to have mastered Grand National-winning jockey Mullins, a 17-time champion amateur rider.
Martin smiled: "The plan was if I won this I'd retire with a 100 per cent strike rate but I think I'll have to keep on going!"
Highland Realm is from the family of Mullins' former smart dual purpose thoroughbred Wicklow Brave, who took the 2015 County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, 2016 Irish St Leger and 2017 Punchestown Champion Hurdle.
Mullins was on-board for the last of the three big wins and the ten-year-old was on-course to add the American Grand National to his record in 2019 when he sadly suffered an injury at the final hurdle.
Sent off the 2-5 favourite on his first racecourse appearance, Highland Realm kept on well to press Alaskan View at the finish.
But it was school pupil Martin's day and it was a real family affair as the mare was trained by his grandfather Willie and led up by his father Mick.
In the same contest, Pat Breen finished third on Lord Lackendarra and his daughter Sarah was sixth on Goodmancon.
Martin junior told Racing TV: "I'm just so grateful to have the likes of my father and grandfather to give me the opportunity. My brother didn't want me on the horse, but my Dad had his way. I thought I was dreaming for a second.
"I was talking to a few of the lads inside and I thought I was going to be making it, but there was a bit of competition for the lead and there was three horses upsides for nearly whole first round. I was tanking along so I let Alaskan View off in front. She travelled along beautifully and heard Patrick (Mullins) coming near, but lengthened out unreal.
"I thought I was going to fall off near the end but I made it! I looked across and said to Patrick 'Did I win or not?"
