This article explores the extraordinary rivalry and unique bond between champion trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott. It highlights their mutual respect, Elliott's rapid rise to prominence, and the pressure created by their relentless pursuit of excellence.
School dropout from Co Meath has become an extraordinarily successful trainer, recovered from a self-inflicted scandal and built a ‘fascinating chemistry’ with his chief rival, the only threat to his father’s dominance. In Game of Thrones, Mullins would have been taken out by a deadeye archer on the castle walls as he arrived on horseback, but Elliott invited him into his kingdom and showed him everything.’s yard too. Patrick says that Elliott bought a stable tour at a charity auction.
“It was Gordon that pushed us to get bigger,” says Patrick Mullins. “It wasn’t the other way. If you go back to the championships maybe 10 years ago it was Gordon that got bigger and got more horses and more winners. We had to push forward to keep up with him – we had to expand to try to keep ahead. The title is decided by prize money and Mullins has more horses for Grade One races than anybody else, but in terms of day-to-day volume, Mullins couldn’t afford to fall off the scorching pace that Elliott had set. In that 10-season span, his number of individual horses at the track climbed from 177 to 291.
“He was a very average amateur ,” says Eddie O’Leary, racing manager for Gigginstown Stud, the biggest owners in Elliott’s yard. “Most jockeys, all they see is the tips of the horse’s ears . Gordon was aware of the fact that he wasn’t going to make it as a jockey, so he concentrated more on the horses, rather than just looking at their ears.”
“Could I have built something like this from nothing?” Mullins wrote at the end of his piece in the Racing Post. “I think probably not.” “It knocked the stuffing out of him personally,” says O’Leary. “He was guilty of being stupid, that’s all he was guilty of. He wasn’t guilty of any welfare issue; he was guilty of stupidity. He lost some very, very good horses. That was the worst six months of his life. It was a diabolical kicking. To have built what he built and then for it all to be taken away from under him. For a fella to come from nowhere and to have built Cullentra into what it is today, at his age , that was incredible.
“He would campaign his horses aggressively,” says McElligott. “They would be kept busy. There is no question of horses being wrapped up. He picked up plenty from his time with Martin Pipe and Pipe won a huge volume of races.”
Horse Racing Irish Racing Willie Mullins Gordon Elliott Rivalry
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Irish 7s star Mullins scores debut hat-trick as Connacht blow away ZebreThe latest sports news from The42.ie in 60 seconds
Read more »
Glory for Willie Mullins with Grade Two win in CorkThe latest sports news from The42.ie in 60 seconds
Read more »
'Future Gold Cup horse' to make chasing debut for Willie Mullins at FairyhouseClosutton maestro expects big things from the JP McManus-owned 2024 JCB Triumph Hurdle winner
Read more »
Mullins Dominates Christmas Racing but Faces Grade One ChallengeWillie Mullins is set to dominate Christmas racing once again, but he faces a challenge in the new Grade One Novice Chase at Leopardstown. Despite his absence in this race, he's expected to have a strong showing throughout the week.
Read more »
Mullins' Sainte Lucie Impresses on Punchestown DebutWillie Mullins' Sainte Lucie made a winning debut at Punchestown, impressing trainer and jockey with her effortless victory. Meanwhile, Ballyadam returned to winning form and Shannon Royale continued his promising chase career.
Read more »
Mullins Makes a Winning Start to 2025Champion trainer Willie Mullins enjoyed a successful New Year's Day with six victories across Fairyhouse and Tramore racecourses.
Read more »