Mullins closes in on record

On a day which promised so much, Patrick Mullins salvaged a single win from his four rides in Gowran Park yesterday as he closes in on Billy Parkinson’s record, set in 1915, for the number of winners ridden by an amateur in a calendar year.

The champion amateur registered his 70th win of 2012 , two short of the record, on board Mozoltov which, in the absence of Sizing Gold, made a successful hurdling debut when justifying favouritism in the Students Day At Gowran Park Maiden Hurdle.

Winner of two bumpers and placed in Grade 1 company, the Kayf Tara gelding romped home 24 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer Marjesjoh, prompting winning trainer Willie Mullins to comment, “He jumped well, but was a bit keen.”