Latest news with #Willie Mullins
The Sun
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
My ‘one-of-a-kind' jockey dad died in a fall just days before I was born – now I'm riding winners for Willie Mullins
A JOCKEY whose dad died in a tragic fall just days before he was born is rocketing up the ranks - banging in winners for Willie Mullins. Sean Cleary-Farrell has three winners from just four rides for the all-conquering Irish trainer this year. 2 He notched his first career double aboard Mullins ' odds-on hotshots Spanish Harlem and Keep Up at Punchestown on Sunday. Mullins' right-hand man David Casey was full of praise for Cleary-Farrell after. And he hinted he could get the leg up in some big-money races aboard Spanish Harlem - who was fourth in the bet365 Gold Cup - when the new season gets going properly. He said: "Sean is in Willie's full-time and is a good rider and works hard. "He took a couple weeks off and rode a winner on the Flat in France. "These days are for lads like him. He's getting his chance and he's taking it with both hands. "Sean gave Spanish Harlem a good ride and he kept galloping well. "I'd say nicer ground suits him and obviously those extended trips. He ran a real good race at Sandown. "I'd say he'll be looking at races like the Kerry National and Munster National." Cleary-Farrell's rapid success is doubly impressive given the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding his father's death aged just 22. Sean Cleary was one of Ireland's 'leading young riders' and described as a 'one-of-a-kind' talent when he was killed in a race at Galway in October 2003. Tragically, Sean Jnr was born just two months after his father passed as a result of severe head injuries suffered in the spill. Describing his father, Cleary-Farrell said on The Irish Field: "My late father Sean died tragically following a fall at Galway, a couple of months before I was born. "Unfortunately, there are very few videos or DVDs of his rides but photos of his winners still adorn the walls of my grandparents' house. "Growing up I was always aware of who he was and what an accomplished jockey he had been during his short career." Mullins took Cleary-Farrell under his wing at Closutton and the conditional jockey says he loves it there. The Irish handler has also started giving more rides to the hugely promising Anna McGuinness, who had another winner under the Mullins banner last weekend. Given the superstars they ride out at Mullins' HQ every day, it's no surprise they're finding it relatively easy work on the racecourse proper. Speaking after his latest win, Cleary-Farrell said: "I can't describe how I feel, it will take me a while to come down off this cloud. "A big thank you to Willie for giving me the opportunity to ride these horses, he's looking after me." Sounds like they'll be looking out for each other in the winner's enclosure for many months, and hopefully years, to come. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
King Charles teams up with Willie Mullins for Leopardstown runner
King Charles and the Queen are teaming up with the king of horse racing as Willie Mullins will saddle his first runner for His Majesty this week. Reaching High has been moved to Mullins' County Carlow stables and runs in a lady riders handicap at Leopardstown on Friday. The four-year-old son of Queen Elizabeth II's Gold Cup winner Estimate will be ridden by Jody Townend, sister of Mullins's stable jockey Paul, who rode her first Cheltenham Festival winner in March. Mullins, the two-time British and 18-times Irish champion trainer, was invited to Windsor Castle for lunch and joined the Royal Procession at Royal Ascot last year. While the royal racing manager, John Warren, described it 'a bit of fun' the serious purpose behind Friday evening's race is find out if the gelding has the potential to go to Royal Ascot, scene of his dam's greatest victory, in June for a long distance handicap before embarking on a jumping career. Reaching High did not break any records in any of his eight runs for Sir Michael Stoute who retired at the end of last year winning once, at Wolverhampton, from eight starts. 'I think the King and Queen are looking forward to having a horse run in Ireland for the first time and this horse might just be a nice prospect that could develop into a National Hunt horse,' Warren told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast. 'He's out of Estimate, a Gold Cup winner, so stamina might be his game. He was trained very well by Sir Michael Stoute last year and when Sir Michael packed up we thought it would be worthwhile looking at who could do a dual-purpose job for him and the Queen. 'The Queen met William on a number of occasions at Cheltenham and thought he was charming and wonderful and keeps having more and more winners the whole time, so the King and Queen were keen to send him to be trained in Ireland.' Meanwhile, Mullins's flat counterpart, Aidan O'Brien, took the latest step to total annexation of all the major Derby/Oaks trials since the Guineas when Whirl, a filly not even entered for Epsom, took apart the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes by five and a half lengths at York. Part-owner Michael Tabor said he thought she was a mile-and-a-quarter filly, and that the Prix de Diane might be more her cup of tea than the Oaks over an extra quarter of a mile. Ryan Moore, however, was very complimentary and hinted she could yet be in the mix for Epsom for which Coolmore would have to pay a £30,000 supplementary entry. 'She was very comfortable stepping up to that trip and was impressive,' he said. 'She is very straight forward and wasn't doing a whole lot in front. She's very professional. By Wootton Bassett she could probably do most things,' Moore said. On Thursday, O'Brien can complete a unique trials set by winning the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes with The Lion In Winter, the over-winter Derby favourite and the colt touted as Ballydoyle's best Derby hope. Tabor said he would not be backing him on Thursday because he has been a bit behind in his work although he is going well at home now. That, he added, would not stop him backing him in the Derby nearer the time.
