My Mate Mozzie and Patrick Mullins lead them home© Photo Healy Racing
There was a 50th winner of the season for Patrick Mullins as the champion amateur (5 ahead of Jamie Codd) triumphed on Gavin Cromwell’s My Mate Mozzie in the Avison Young INH Flat Race at Punchestown.
Maintaining a Mullins link after Mags had trained him to win a point-to-point, Patrick guided the successful Born To Sea gelding home to an impressive eight and a half length win from Gortmillish Monishter Are Mwee was a big eye-catcher in third, a length and a quarter back.
“We obviously gave plenty of money for him (205,000 at Doncaster last December) and there is always a bit of pressure when you do that. Thankfully it’s after working out great,” said Cromwell.
“He has loads of gears and can quicken off a nice pace. He jumps really well and is a nice one to look forward to.
“That’s a nice way to finish off the season. We’ve a few nice bumper horses this season.”
The Stewards enquired into an incident about three furlongs from the finish involving Sight Nor Seen ridden by Mr M.J. Sweeney, Aintree Gin ridden by Mr H.C. Swan and Monishter Are Mwee, ridden by Mr J.P. Kirwan, where it appeared that Aintree Gin was tightened and displaced some of the uprights when colliding with the running rail.
Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Mr H.C. Swan stated that there was no room for the horse on his outside when he received interference, got tightened and almost went through the rail. Mr M.J. Sweeney stated that he had not much room when receiving interference. Mr J.P. Kirwan stated that he thought that he had enough room to make his challenge between horses but ran out of room when his mount did not have the speed to progress. He added that his mount was hanging at that time.
Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that the incident was caused by Mr J.P. Kirwan riding carelessly, this being a breach of Rule 214. Having taken his clean previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended Mr J.P. Kirwan for 4 racedays.
The Stewards interviewed Mr M.J. Sweeney, rider of Sight Nor Seen, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.
Mr M.J. Sweeney stated that his mount was staying on and needed a longer trip. He felt that he was hitting his mount intermittently. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that Mr M.J. Sweeney was in breach of R10(3)(b) by the unnecessary use of his whip when his chance of winning or being placed was clearly gone. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended Mr M.J. Sweeney for 3 racedays.
Mr H.C. Swan, rider of Aintree Gin trained by R. K. Watson, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got very tight for room about three furlongs from the finish and nearly went through the running rail .
(AM & EM)
