Daniel King secures crowning glory in Galway Plate
KING OF THE RACE: Daniel King, winner of The Tote Galway Plate Handicap Steeplechase. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon.
Daniel King has been the buzz jockey on the Irish racing circuit in recent months and the 21-year-old from Kilbrin in Co Cork enjoyed his biggest success yet when partnering King Alexander to victory in the Tote Galway Plate on Wednesday evening.
Tony Martin, for whom King rides lively outsider Putapoundinthejar in the Galway Hurdle on Thursday, and Denis Hogan, for whom the jockey won on Frankie John here on Tuesday, have been waxing lyrical about the talent possessed by the promising pilot and Willie Mullins was quick to join them in the aftermath of King Alexander’s half-length victory over fellow outsider Conyers Hill.
“He is, isn’t he,” Mullins replied when it was put to him that King is one of the most polished jockeys in the weighing room.
"He’s just come on the scene, just come on my scene anyway! He’s done a bit of riding out for me and [assistant trainer] David Casey had him snared early in the month for this race.
“He appears to be [one of the brightest young talents in the weighing room] and today franked that, I think. He’s on fire this month.”
The winning jockey, who was riding his first winner for Mullins, was quick to pay tribute to his willing partner, the biggest-priced of the four Closutton contenders at 20-1.
“It's great, I'm lost for words to be honest but I got a savage spin around,” King said. “He jumped from fence to fence, travelled so well and he was probably getting a bit idle in front because I was there probably plenty soon.
“He took me through the race so easily but I’m just delighted that he hung on. He didn't miss a beat the whole way around, winged the last two in the dip and I just sat on him for as long as I could. But when I asked him, he put the head down and galloped strong to the line.”
Of his recent run of success, King added: “I'm very lucky to have good people supporting me and trainers are giving me rides, I can't thank them enough. I'm just delighted to get the opportunity.” Mullins, for whom this was a third Galway Plate success, was also eager to pay tribute to the horse.
He said: “I couldn’t believe how well he was travelling, and jumping so well.
“He kept himself in the race without having to make any effort. He got over the last two and then just seemed to saunter up the hill. It was amazing how well he was travelling.
“I was disappointed with my other three, they just went out like lights coming up the hill. Some horses don’t handle Galway, but this is obviously a fella I’ll be bringing back to Galway year after year.”
Of the importance of the Galway Plate, Mullins said: “It’s the race of the summer. The Grand National is probably the race of the winter, and maybe the Gold Cup, but when you come to the summer festivals the Galway Plate is the one everyone wants to win.”
King now has it on his CV. One suspects it won’t be the last big race he lands for Mullins.
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