Patrick Mullins moved one step nearer to making history as victory aboard Mozoltov at Gowran Park yesterday left him just three wins away from breaking the record for the number of winners in a calendar year for an amateur rider.
Mullins headed to County Kilkenny on the 69-winner mark for the year and with four rides for his father, champion trainer Willie Mullins.
Although out of luck on his first ride aboard Upazo, he struck gold an hour later as Mozoltov won as a 1-4 favourite should when scoring by 24 lengths in the Students Day At Gowran Park 2013 – Tuesday April 9 Maiden Hurdle.
The winning trainer said: "He jumped well but he was a bit keen. He'll go for a novice now, probably after Christmas. He's a big horse but he'd go over any trip. Hopefully, he'll win more hurdles but he has the makings of a chaser."
Mozoltov was cut to 20-1 from 25s for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham by Stan James.
The rider appeared to have good chances of adding to his tally later in the day, but Champagne Agent was a disappointing favourite in the Gowran Park Racing Club 2013 Maiden Hurdle won by 33-1 chance Dante Anna and Super Mix was second to 25-1 shot Kick On Boss in the bumper.
Mullins is now two winners behind Billy Parkinson, who rode 72 in a year as an amateur in 1915, and looks sure to surpass that number if he stays injury free between now and the new year.
In today's action, Saint Are can star on the opening day of Cheltenham's International meeting by lifting the handicap chase.
Tim Vaughan's charge is on something of a retrieval mission after getting only as far as the fifth fence in the Hennessy on his seasonal bow. A winner at Aintree last spring, Saint Are remains a decent prospect and can get back on track here.
Broadbackbob made a successful fencing bow at Plumpton last month and can keep up the good work in the novices' chase.
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