ENGLISH TEXTS
Walsh, passed away on 26 June after a peaceful retirement with the Walsh family.
DIAKALI born 15 / 04 / 2009 Sinndar – Diasilixa 29 starts – 10 wins including 2 Gr. 1( Prix Alain du Breil)
Diakali breaks new ground Mullins holds great admiration for French-bred horses. Before Diakali, none of his 4-year-olds had shone in the Prix Alain du Breil. On 9 June 2013 at Auteuil, the Aga Khan-bred hurdler won with authority on only his second appearance at the track. Second in the prep race, Diakali made the running before sprinting away to victory. The son of Sinndar offered Mullins his first win in this race and his second career Group 1. After eight loyal years, Diakali retired on 1 February 2020 at Sandown, aged 11.
FOOTPAD born 27 / 02 / 2012 Creachadoir – Willamina 27 starts – 11 wins including 6 Gr. 1( Prix Alain du Breil)
Footpad, sound as ever Arriving as a maiden at Mullins’ yard at age 3, Footpad climbed the ladder step by step before returning to his native country a year later. After beating Device, the top French 4-year-old, he was the clear favorite in the Prix Alain du Breil. Sent off at 4 / 10 on 12 June 2016, Footpad travelled near the lead before asserting on the run-in. He recorded his second Group 1 and gave Mullins a second win in the race, three years after Diakali.
Bénie des Dieux born 10 / 04 / 2011 Great Pretender – Cana 19 starts – 11 wins including 4 Gr. 1( Grande Course de Haies d’ Auteuil)
Bénie des Dieux conquers De Bon Cœur! Between Willie Mullins and the Grande Course de Haies d’ Auteuil, a beautiful love story has unfolded since the turn of the century. Already a four-time winner of the race, the record-setting trainer returned to the Butte Mortemart with the aptly named Bénie des Dieux. On 18 May 2019, the 8-year-old mare, bred in Saône-et-Loire by Gérard Doyen, arrived fresh off a Group 1 win at Punchestown. Ruthlessly efficient under Paul Townend, she earned Mullins his fifth victory in the Grande Course de Haies d’ Auteuil, depriving reigning champion De Bon Cœur of a repeat. She later scored again at Gowran Park before retiring on 10 March 2020 during the Cheltenham Festival.
Gala Marceau born 05 / 03 / 2019 Galiway – Alma Marceau 19 starts – 5 wins including 2 Gr. 1( Prix Alain du Breil)
Gala Marceau stands today as Willie Mullins’ latest Group 1 winner in France. Arriving at Closutton at the end of her 3-year-old season, the Galiway filly, bred by Guy Pariente, delivered a remarkable 2023 campaign in Britain before returning to Auteuil on 21 May 2023. In the Prix Alain du Breil, she faced Losange Bleu, then the top French 4-year-old and future champion. Long prominent at the head of the race, the representative of the“ Champion Trainer” unleashed a superb turn of foot after the final hurdle to secure her second career Group 1. It was Mullins’ third win in the race, accompanied that year by Zarak The Brave finishing third to complete the exacta.
GAËTAN CHAMPIER
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MR. MULLINS KNOWS ALL HIS HORSES
GALORAMA. How did you come to join Willie Mullins’ yard? Gaëtan Champier. I was working in Marseille, for Manon Scandella-Lacaille and I wanted to discover something new. So I got in touch with Mr. Boulard who made the request to Mr. Mullins.
G. How did you experience your arrival in Ireland?
G. C. It was definitely a real change of scenery after Marseille! But it was great, with sheep everywhere and beautiful landscapes. As for the training, it was on another level. I was arriving at the best trainer’ s yard in Europe.
G. What were the difficulties for you at the beginning?
G. C. First of all, I didn’ t speak a word of English! But there were French people there, including Vincent Conte, a jump jockey I knew from my time in Lyon. I spent a lot of time with him which made things easier.
G. What impressed you about Willie Mullins?
G. C. There were 80 horses being ridden, it was very impressive. Mr. Mullins knows all his horses. There is also the opportunity to
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