The_Guardian_-_2016-12-29

When the split between Mullins and O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud bloodstock operation was
announced in late September, many doubted that an issue as mundane as training fees could account
for it. In fact, many still do, the suggestion being that O’Leary did not enjoy being just one major
owner among several at the Mullins stable. He wanted to be the undisputed top dog.
O’Leary, though, insisted on Wednesday that the breakdown in professional relations between owner
and trainer was all down to money. Billionaires do not normally jib at the cost of a first-class ticket,
never mind when it is only a little more expensive than flying economy, but O’Leary, it seems, is an
exception.
“It’s business,” O’Leary said of the split in which Mullins, Ireland’s champion trainer, lost 60 horses
overnight. “I have loads of horses and plenty of other trainers, and Willie has other owners. I don’t
mind spending lots of money on the horses but I want to keep the training fees down.
“Willie’s a genius of a trainer, that’s not news to anybody, and he’s demonstrated here all week what
a good trainer he is. But Gordon is a good trainer, Henry is a good trainer. These are business
decisions. People write it up like it’s someone died in the family and it isn’t.
“The reason I’m not having many winners at Leopardstown this week is that Willie is winning them
all, or nearly all. But he’s a great trainer and a gentleman and I’m sorry that he doesn’t have horses
for me [any more] but hopefully he will again in the future.
“We’re weaker without Willie. I’d like to say that Willie was weaker without us but it’s not looking
like it this week.”
Outlander’s victory was a big moment for Jack Kennedy, his 17-year-old jockey, who was recording
the 100th winner of his career and also his first in a Grade One race. However, the form was some
way below the standard set by Thistlecrack, the King George VI Chase winner, two days earlier, and
Outlander is a 20-1 outsider to win the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March.
“Valseur Lido was outstayed by the others, so we might go back to the Ryanair [Chase] with him,”
O’Leary said. “I think Outlander has shown today that he is a Gold Cup horse and hopefully Don Poli
as well if he retains his enthusiasm. He is entitled to go for a Gold Cup but the standard of the race is
going to be quite high, so we’ll throw a few at it.”
Earlier on the card, Mullins had maintained the exceptional run of form that started with three winners
here on Monday and continued with another five on Tuesday. He ended the day with four more
victories, giving him 12 in all from 21 races, and also another Grade One success, thanks to Vroum
Vroum Mag’s one-and-a-quarter length win in the three-mile Christmas Hurdle.
The Stayers’ Hurdle is now a very plausible target for Vroum Vroum Mag but she was noticeably
keen for much of Wednesday’s race and has alternatives at Cheltenham in the Mares’ Hurdle, which
she won last season, and possibly even the Ryanair Chase as she went unbeaten in six starts over
fences in 2014 and 2015. The Champion Hurdle may also be an option if either or both of Faugheen
and Annie Power, the last two winners of the race for their trainer, fail to make it to the starting line.