Terrific Townend makes it a perfect 10 Thyestes triumphs for Mullins
Owner of Nick Rockett Stewart Andrew hugs trainer Willie Mullins after winning the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Steeplechase. Pic: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
“The Goffs Thyestes Chase is our race, at our track, and we target it every year,” said trainer Willie Mullins when he welcomed press and Dublin Racing Festival sponsors to his Closutton base on Wednesday afternoon. Twenty-four hours later, that love affair with the prestigious event bore further fruit when Nick Rockett gave the local trainer a tenth victory in the race.
For winning rider Paul Townend, from whom it was yet another masterclass, it was a third win in the event, following on from On His Own in 2014 and Carefully Selected two years ago.
Nick Rockett, running in the names of Stewart Andrew and his late wife, Sadie, had Grade Two-winning form over hurdles but counted just one success, in a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse, as his only previous victory over the larger obstacles.
However, in those limited opportunities he finished seventh in an Irish Grand National, in which he was sent off the 4-1 favourite despite only having had three previous runs over fences. He was also placed in a Bet365 Gold Cup (formerly Whitbread) and, on his recent comeback, caught the eye with a fine fourth in the Paddy Power Handicap at Leopardstown.
Armed with all that information, punters steamed into the eight-year-old, and sent him off the 9-2 joint-favourite, but it took a superbly judged ride by Townend to deliver for them.
Velvet Elvis, back on his favoured testing ground and sporting cheekpieces for the first time, made a bold bid, but Townend, choosing to go wide throughout, as is his wont, wound his mount up for a challenge over the last three.
Sending him to the front as they left the ground for the final time, he drove Nick Rockett on to a poignant success, beating Velvet Elvis by two and a quarter lengths, with third-placed Favori De Champdou 13 lengths further back.
“Sadie was a proper local lass from Goresbridge and Nick was her horse,” said the winning owner. “Sadly, she died in December 2022 but fortunately Willie managed to get the horse to run five days before she passed away.
“This horse has been a fantastic servant to us since and he’s done everything for us. Today was the plan and to win it locally for Sadie means so much more — it’s absolutely unbelievable. This is such an inner feeling of consolement to me because it’s what she always wanted, and now it’s been delivered on her home turf by a fantastic trainer.”
Mullins, who won the first of his ten Thyestes Chases all the way back in 2000, added: "There’ll be a lot of celebrating around here tonight, with Sadie’s family from nearby. It’s a dream come true.
“To me, today was the day — it was a tremendous performance. With a horse like him, you like to think they get a chance of one big handicap during the season — and what a race to win!
“When we were growing up, the Thyestes was a great trial for the Grand National. I’m not sure whether we’ll run him in the Bobbyjo before those possible National-type races; it might come too soon. He mightn’t need another run, but we’ll see how he comes out of it. If I could ideally find a race a couple of weeks after the Bobbyjo, that would suit me better.”
Mullins and Townend wasted no time completing a double as they took the Daly Farrell Accountants Beginners’ Chase with Gigginstown House Stud’s Quai De Bourbon.
Never one to shy away from running his own horses against each other, Mullins was responsible for five of the 14 runners in the race, and while the market leader obliged, he was pushed to the pin of his collar by stablemate Chapeau De Soleil. Blizzard Of Oz made it a clean sweep of the places for the Closutton team, while his two other runners in the race finished fifth and sixth.
Mullins’s brother, Tom, and nephew, Danny, were also on the mark on the day as they took the opening race, the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle, with Coral River.
The lightly-raced six-year-old, who had some smart bumper form, was well beaten on his only previous outing over timber but, much better for that run, pounced late to get the better of Kish Bank.
“Here in Gowran, riding a winner just reminded me how big the local ones are,” said the winning rider. “The number of people saying, ‘well done,' and all the familiar faces as I came back in … it’s great to do it on the local stage.”
