ENGLISH TEXTS proved, you needed to show ten horses in training. This was before microchips and passports … so we added my eventer and a few broodmares to make up the numbers. That’ s how it all started- it’ s extraordinary how it has grown! In the beginning, we did everything ourselves. We mucked out the boxes, rode the lots, drove the lorry. We had to learn how to work with other people, to delegate responsibilities, and ultimately, that has made things easier for us today. I have always been there behind the scenes to keep the wheels turning. My main role as a manager has been to establish working procedures and put managers and teams in place, chasing people up to make sure everything runs smoothly … At first, I also handled the horses’ feed and the accounting side, but over the years we have built teams and systems that are essential for the yard to function. It’ s thanks to this team that we can continue moving forward.”
Wither Or Which launched the Mullins machine Jackie Mullins recalls some of the horses that marked Willie’ s career:“ The first was Wither Or Which, who Willie rode to win the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 1996. At that time, all the good horses in Ireland were quickly sold to England, so Irish winners at the Festival were rare. We bought Wither Or Which at the sales and he won the Leopardstown Christmas Festival Bumper by about twenty lengths. Everyone wanted to buy him, at any price! But Willie said,‘ I want to be a trainer of horses, not a dealer,’ and he managed to sell three shares in
Wither Or Which and keep him in the yard, with the guarantee that he would ride him. Richard Dunwoody tried to get the ride, but Willie didn’ t give in and they won. It was a decisive moment for us, because we proved we were capable of winning on the big stage. Two years later, Florida Pearl arrived and the wheel kept turning. Our Irish owners gained confidence, and they understood that with us their dreams could come true. Since then, we have had a multitude of champions. Winning the Grand National with Hedgehunter in 2005 was huge. It was a dream to win that race. With 40 runners, anything can happen, it’ s like winning the lottery, and it brought us international recognition.” Twenty years later, Willie Mullins earned a third victory in the Grand National, a win that moved the trainer to tears. Jackie remembers:“ We were so proud. The joy I felt was for Patrick, for him, an amateur, to win the Grand National was extraordinary. It still feels like a dream to me, I don’ t think I’ ve woken up yet.”
Many talents and multi-tasking With all this success, these records, the fame and a small army of horses to manage, many people would have changed, but according to Jackie, Willie hasn’ t.“ He has less hair than before! When we got married, he had a proper mop! Other than that, he hasn’ t changed much. He is a smart worker more than a hard one, with an incredible ability to compartmentalise. He deals with each matter straight away before moving on to the next, and when he has time to rest, he really rests. He inherited from his mother, Maureen, the gift of communication. He loves meeting, entertaining and talking to people- and that is a big part of being a trainer. His mother also passed on her adventurous spirit. He is always brave and not afraid of making mistakes. He tries things, and if they don’ t work, he learns for next time. When we won the Nakayama Grand Jump, for example, we had gone once before to observe and learn. Willie understood exactly the kind of horse needed to succeed, and it worked.” At the time of our conversation, Willie is preparing for new challenges.“ He is heading to the Breeders’ Cup and then to Melbourne … We haven’ t yet managed to win the Melbourne Cup, but maybe next week will be the one! Patrick was hoping to go to Del Mar or to the Melbourne Cup, but we need him at home in the yard. I hope he’ ll have other opportunities!” For such a family of professionals, we can bet those opportunities will come soon and often.
BACK TO ARTICLE
THE ART OF PA- TIENCE IN BUILD- ING SUCCESS
BY CÉCILE ADONIAS
It’ s from Australia that David Casey took the time to talk to us about himself and about Willie Mullins- a story in which the careers of both men are closely intertwined. Trust and discretion have defined more than twenty years of working together.
GALORAMA. How long have you been working
159 # 14