Successful Premier Sale Leaves Racing Buoyant
The highest price at at the Sale was lot 197 (pictured above by Chase Liebenberg), purchased by Adam Marcus for R4,5 million, a Vercingetorix colt called Caesar’sVastGhost out of stakes-placed Jet Master mare Come Fly With Me which makes him a half-brother to Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and WSB Met winner Double Superlative
The Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale held on Friday and Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth set new ground and highlighted the positive vibe sweeping through horseracing in South Africa at present.
Of the 251 lots offered 224 were sold, up from 121 in 2024 and 219 last year, the aggregate of R145,210,000 was up from R65,345,000 in 2024 and R122,800,00 last year, the avarege of R648,249 was up from R540,042 in 2024 and 560,731 last year, while the median compared favourably as it was R400,000 in 2024, R325,000 last year and R400,000 this year.
The top buyer at the Sale, Jonathan Snaith, said, “The 2026 Race Coast Premier Yearling Sale was a tremendous success and a clear step forward for the Sale.
The quality of yearlings on offer was exceptional and buyers responded accordingly, which is reflected in the strong aggregate of over R145 million and an impressive average of R648,259.
The medium of R400 000 is an important figure, which was up 23% on last year.
There was great depth across the catalogue with plenty of athletic, well-presented individuals.
It’s encouraging to see breeders supporting the sale with quality stock and buyers backing it with confidence.
Sales like this are vital for the continued growth of the South African breeding industry and horse population.
Race Coast Sales created a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere that was enjoyed by all buyers, contributing to a thoroughly successful and enjoyable Sale.
A sincere thank you to the entire Race Coast Sales team, as well as the owners and buyers whose support makes this Sale possible. They make the magic happen.”
Snaith spent a total of R 26,075,000 for 25 lots at an average of R 1,043,000.
Justin Vermaak Equine bought the most horses, splashing out R 22,250,000 for 29 lots at an average of R767,241.
Jonathan Snaith had a memorable Sale for more reasons than one. He is the stallion manager of Jet Dark, who had a sensational return at his first ever Sale. The Drakenstein-based Trippi stallion had 20 lots sold for a total return of R 17,550,000 and an average of R877,500. That must surely be a South African record for a stallion’s first Sale. Nick Jonsson and Tommy Crowe were Jet Dark’s owners when he raced and continue to own him in partnership with Drakenstein. His service fee for 2026 remains at R30,000, which makes him the best value stallion in the country based on his Sales average.
Jet Dark’s highest priced lot was 195, a Drakenstein Stud-bred colt out of the What A Winter mare Clouds Unfold, who won the Gr 1 wfa Majorca Stakes twice. This is Clouds Unfold’s second foal. (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)
Reigning champion stallion Vercingetorix was the leading Sire, which has become the norm. He deserves that status having set a new record last term of 23 stakes winners in a season and this season he has already had 14 stakes winner. His 23 stakes winners won 33 stakes races between them last season and this season his 14 stakes winners have won 19 stakes races between them.
Vercingetorix’s Sale return was 22 lots sold for a total of R 32,975,000 and an average of R 1,498,864.
Rafeef was not far behind with his 21 lots fetching a returning a total of R26,850,000 for an average of R1,278,571.
Rafeef had six stakes winners of nine races last season and has had four stakes winners of four races this season.
Jet Dark, who was a five-time Gr 1 winner who won the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate twice and he also won the WSB Cape Town Met, was the third highest selling stallion by aggregate, although Master Of My Fate was third highest by average, his six lots returning an average of R 1,020,833.
Gimmethegreenlight’s seven lots averaged R842,857, One World’s nine lots averaged R 708,333 and What A Winter’s 16 lots averaged R 554,688.
The big improver at the Sale, not surprisingly, was The United States, sire of the South African horse rated highest in the current Longines World Ranking, Tin Pan Alley.
THe Moutonshoek Stud-based The United States’ six lots went for an average of R 554,167.
The highest average achieved on the Sale was actually by the overseas-bases stallion Cracksman, a son of the legendary Frankel, but he was not included in this article’s average rankings as he only had one lot.
Cracksman’s one lot was a Drakenstein Stud-bred colt out of a three time-winning Free Eagle (High Chaparral) mare, covered to Southern Hemisphere times, and he went for R1.5 million.
The highest lot at the Sale was on Day Two, lot 197, which was vendored by Winterbach Stud as agent and was purchased by Adam Marcus for R4.5 million. This Vercingetorix colt called Caesar’svastghost is out of the five time-winning stakes-placed Jet Master mare Come Fly With Me, which makes him a half-brother to the Twice Over Cape Guineas and Met winner, Double Superlative.
Adam Marcus is presented with a bottle of Champagne after successfully bidding for the highest-priced lot on the Sale (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)
The highest lot on Day One was lot 94, a Narrow Creek Stud-bred Rafeef colt called Rafa’s Tune, who was the first foal of the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint-winner Singforafa. He was sold to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for R4 million.
There were no fewer than 47 seven figure lots with Vercingetorix responsible for 15 of them, Rafeef for eleven, Jet Dark for seven, What A Winter four, One World three, Gimmethegreenlight two, Master Of My Fate two, The United States one, Cracksman one and Futura one.
The leading vendor by aggregate was Klawervlei Stud as agent with their 44 lots returning R 25,800,000 for an average of R586,364.
Maine Chance Farms were narrow runner ups by average with their 28 lots returning R 25,400,000 for an average of R 907,143.
Drakenstein Stud were in third place by aggregate and were the leaders by average with their 15 lots returning R 22,750,000 for an average of R1,516,667.
The Race Coast Sales team will be buoyant after this excellent Sale and it augurs well for their future.
Pedigree Standouts At Memorable Premier Sale
Lot 94, a Narrow Creek Stud-bred colt by Rafeef out of Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Singforafa, was the highest price lot on Day one, sold to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for R4 million (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)
Sarah Whitelaw analysed the Sale and picked out some key factors
Last week’s Premier Yearling Sale produced impressive results across the board.
The sale’s aggregate rose from R122.8 million to R145.21 million, and the average and median prices rose to R648 259 and R400 000 respectively. Both proven and unproven stallions enjoyed success at the 2026 Premier Sale, which bodes well for the future of the South African stud book.
A number of stallions and mares made their presence felt at the Premier Sale, with a number of families coming to the fore at this year’s Premier Sale.
VERCINGETORIX REMAINS DOMINANT
The domination of South Africa’s sales rings by champion sire Vercingetorix shows no sign of abating. After supplying last year’s R9 000 000 sales topping colt, Vercingetorix once again proved king of the sales ring at the 2026 Premier Sale. The Maine Chance resident was the sire of three of the top priced lots (all colts) at the sale, with Vercingetorix colt Caesar’svastghost (Lot 197) fetching R4.5 million to top the Premier Yearling Sale. Not surprisingly, Vercingetorix was the sale’s Leading Sire, by Aggregate, with his 22 yearlings to sell grossing R32.975 million and averaging an impressive R1 498 864.
NATIONAL COLOUR – STILL A FACTOR
Ill-fated champion National Colour continues to make her presence on the South African stud book. Not only did National Colour’s G1 Computaform Sprint winning son Rafeef enjoy notable success at the Premier Sale, but National Colour’s daughter Circle Of Speed (by Sebring) was responsible for the Jet Dark Midnight Express (Lot 192) who was knocked down for R1 600 000. Rafeef, whose yearlings made up to R4 000 000 at this year’s Premier Sale, ended the two day auction as second on the Leading Sires table, with his yearlings averaging R1 278 571.
JET DARK’S FAST START
Champion and five time G1 winner Jet Dark made a big impression with his first Premier Sale yearlings in 2026. The son of Trippi had members of his first crop make up to R2 500 000, with Jet Dark’s top lot being Tsunami Cloud (Lot 195), a colt out of dual G1 Majorca Stakes winner Clouds Unfold. Jet Dark ended the sale as the Leading First Season Sire, and finished third on the Leading Sires table. In total, the Drakenstein Stud bred and based champion had 20 yearlings make R17.55 million and average R877 500.
THE AUTUMN GLOW INFLUENCE
Unbeaten Australian star Autumn Glow continues to lift the South African stud book, and the Autumn Glow influence was felt at the Premier Sale. The joint top priced filly (Lot 262), who made R1 800 000, is bred on very similar lines to Autumn Glow. The filly in question was sired by Redoute’s Choice horse Rafeef and she is out of I Like It Hot, a twice winning What A Winter half-sister to Via Africa, the dam of both Autumn Glow and G1 ATC Golden Rose winning sire In The Congo. Both Autumn Glow and In The Congo were sired by sons of Redoute’s Choice.
Another from this family to make waves at the Premier Sale was The United States filly (Lot 114) out of Swift Dancer with this filly making R1 700 000. Swift Dancer is a winning Oratorio half-sister to the aforementioned Via Africa.
MASTER’S INFLUENCE
The late, great Jet Master was another to make his presence felt at the Premier Sale. Not only is the seven time South African Champion Sire broodmare sire of the 2026 Premier Yearling Sales topper (Lot 197), but Jet Master’s dual G1 winning daughter Thunder Dance was responsible for the Vercingetorix colt (Lot 123) who fetched R3 000 000. Jet Master is also the broodmare sire of Jet Dark, whose yearlings averaged R877 500 at the Premier Yearling Sale, while Jet Master’s increasingly successful son Master Of My Fate had Premier Sale yearlings fetch up to R2 200 000.
Curious Girl Could Be A Threat To Hazy Dazy
Curious Girl romps home a wide margin winner despite carrying joint topweight (JC Photos)
The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Futura filly Curious Girl was backed in from 4/1 to 5/2 in Saturday’s Non-Black Type Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m and never looked like losing under Gavin Lerena, despite her 86 merit rating meaning she had to carry joint topweight of 60kg under the merit rated band conditions of the race.
Her 86 merit rating did not put her at the top of her band either and she was officially 1kg under sufferance with the 88-rated Lady Blunt, who was also set to carry 60kg. As it was not a black type event Lady Blunt also benefited from Rachel Venniker’s 1,5kg gender claim.
However, Curious Girl proved way better than an 86 merit rating over this trip and ran out a 5,75 length winner.
Curious Girl has got better and better in line with her becoming more mature and stepping up in trip, which is the typical pattern of her sire Futura’s progeny. She had previously won three out of five starts and the two lossses were over 1600m and the three wins from 1800m up to 2400m.
The Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara-chasing Hazy Dazy might now have a harder task of winning the third and final leg of that series, the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m, than had been previously thought, especially considering Curious Girl has won over a staying trip before.
That is if Curious Girl runs in the Oaks.
Mathew de Kock told the Sporting Post on Saturday she would be entered, alongside Listed Hawwaam Stakes fourth-placed Councillor, but running them would be given careful consideration in consultation with the owners.
He said, “Both fillies risk significant penalties from the handicapper even for minor placings in the Oaks. Curious Girl is likely to move into the MR90s after her win today, while Councillor is rated 84 – massive increases after the Oaks could carry potentially career-limiting consequences.”
On Saturday Lerena got Curious Girl over nicely from draw seven into a midfield position with cover and within striking distance of the pace, which was set by Clouds Clearing.
In the straight the Riyo Stud-bred Curious Girl’s rangy style saw her eating up the ground and she had taken the lead by the 300m mark.
She then simply galloped away from them.
The tall filly’s big stride made the rest of the field look like small horses and the bonus for her future is that she still looks a touch gangly, so has scope for further furnishing.
The 15/10 favourite Into Dancing was receiving 1,5kg from Curious Girl and stayed on for second.
In third place was joint topweight Ethical and next best were Scarlet O’Hara and Lady Blunt.
There was 9,45 lengths between first and sixth in the 14 horse field and Curious Girl’s time was 1,63 seconds faster than Diogenes time, despite her having to carry 6kg more weight.
It all augurs well for Curious Girl’s future and it would be surprising if she did not have a tilt at the Oaks as she looks to be going places.
Curious Girl is owned by Hollywood Racing, who bought her at the National Yearling Sale for R160,000.
Diogenes Wins The Hawwaam Stakes For Weichong Marwing
Hawwaam gelding Diogenes fittingly wins the Listed WSB Hawwaam Stakes cosily (JC Photos)
The SA Derby Trial, known these days as the Listed WSB Hawwaam Stakes, saw an admirable win for the Weichong Marwing-trained Diogenes over 2000m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.
Diogenese, who is ironically by Hawwaam, went into the race merit rated only 80 and under the merit rated band conditions he was officially 5kg under sufferance with the 102-rated Copper Eagle, who carried joint top weight.
Muzi Yeni must be one of the best at overcoming a wide draw in the country and he was at his best on Diogenes.
The Riethuiskraal Stud-bred gelding was having his third start for Weichong Marwing, having arrived from Cape Town as the winner of one race over 1600m in five starts and that was in an open maiden in which he carried only 56kg.
He is out of the Captain Al mare Captainofmysoul, who was a five-time winning sprinter.
However, Hawwaam stayed well and with three of his five Gr 1 wins being over 2000m.
Furthermore, Weichong Marwing was once stable jockey to the maestro Ormond Ferraris, while his brother Weiho also learnt from Ferraris and is thus known as a master of staying races.
Yeni took Diogenes up handy and was caught wide initially, but he saw a split second opportunity to slot in behind the pacemaker Texas Missile and took it superbly without causing any interference.
Texas Missile, who was the 4/1 favourite in an open looking contest, relaxed well in front and set no more than a steady pace.
He stayed on well in the straight and and was only headed by Diogenes at the 100m mark.
Diogenese was receiving 3kg from Texas Missile and beat him by 1,50 lengths with Master Spy, Councillor and Copper Eagle next best.
Diogenes started at odds of 8/1.
His running style suggests he will enjoy the step up to the 2450m of the Gr 1 SA Derby, but he will face a much tougher task there.
Diogenes is owned by Mr M Havenga.
He was initially purchased by Jonathan Snaith for R300,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale, but he was sold out of the Snaith yard to Weichong Marwing for R281,000 on the BSA December Online Auction.
Luke Ferraris Has Outside Chance In Hong Kong Derby
Luke Ferraris’s Derby mount Dazzling Fit did not enjoy a good trip in the Classic Cup and yet still stayed on well enough to suggest he has an outside chance in the Derby (Picture: HKJC)
The final field is set for the Hong Kong Derby to be run on March 22 at Sha Tin.
The Contenders
Name Rating Trainer Jockey Import Type
Little Paradise 103 Jimmy Ting Vincent Ho PPG
Numbers 100 Frankie Lor Derek Leung PP
Stormy Grove 98 Frankie Lor Harry Bentley PP
Sagacious Life 97 Pierre Ng Karis Teetan PP
Invincible Ibis 94 Mark Newnham Hugh Bowman PPG
Patch Of Cosmo 89 Manfred Man D B McMonagle PPG
Beauty Bolt 88 Tony Cruz Brenton Avdulla PP
Emblazon 88 Cody Mo Jerry Chau PPG
Top Dragon 87 Chris So Andrea Atzeni PPG
Regal Gem 85 Frankie Lor Alexis Badel PP
Juneau Pride 81 John Size Keith Yeung PPG
Dazzling Fit 80 David Eustace Luke Ferraris PPG
Seraph Gabriel 79 David Eustace James McDonald PP
Pope Cody 76 Me Tsui James Orman PP
In the 13th instalment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, we dial in on the make-up of the field for the city’s most prestigious race and look at how the 14 runners have come to stand on the edge of glory.
Barring any mishaps, the field for the 149th HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin this Sunday (22 March) is set, with all the biggest names from this season’s four-year-old crop featuring.
HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) victor Little Paradise, HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) conqueror Stormy Grove, recent G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) winner Numbers and G1 Derby Paulista (2400m) hero Sagacious Life headline a field that also features Invincible Ibis, Patch Of Cosmo, Beauty Bolt, Emblazon, Top Dragon, Regal Gem, Juneau Pride, Dazzling Fit, Seraph Gabriel and Pope Cody.
Little Paradise takes the Hong Kong Classic Mile at Sha Tin.
Hong Kong owners search far and wide for the horse they hope will deliver them the ultimate success and this year’s field is a true testament to that, with gallopers bred in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Great Britain and Ireland all featuring.
In the past decade, Private Purchases (previously raced gallopers) have edged unraced runners (Private Purchase Griffins and International Sale Griffins) six Derby victories to four, with success coming in streaks.
After PPs Werther (2016), Rapper Dragon (2017), Ping Hai Star (2018) and Furore (2019) prevailed, PPGs Golden Sixty (2020), Sky Darci (2021) and Voyage Bubble (2023) plus ISG Romantic Warrior (2022) came to the fore before Massive Sovereign in 2024 and Cap Ferrat last year again flew the flag for high-profile imports.
It is an even split this year with seven PPs and seven PPGs, with Numbers, Stormy Grove and Sagacious Life leading the charge for the previously raced brigade and Little Paradise and Invincible Ibis the top PPGs in the field.
Pope Cody has taken the longest road to this year’s Derby, racing five times for three wins in Queensland, Australia, before winning once from 15 Hong Kong starts to scrape into the field as the lowest-rated runner on a mark of 76.
Numbers raced the most times overseas before being bought by Hong Kong interests, winning twice from 12 starts in Australia, while Sagacious Life experienced the most success abroad before moving to Hong Kong, winning four times from six starts and also posting two G1 seconds.
Beauty Bolt had the fewest pre-import starts, winning his only start in Ireland, while Seraph Gabriel is the only PP not to have saluted since landing in Hong Kong.
Among the PPGs, Little Paradise – who boasts the highest rating in the Derby on a mark of 103 – has the most wins with six, while Emblazon has reeled off five victories from just eight starts – the fewest runs of any PPG in the Derby and equal with Seraph Gabriel as the least of any runner.
Seraph Gabriel, Regal Gem, Juneau Pride and Emblazon enter the Four-Year-Old Classic Series for the time first time in the Derby, while Little Paradise, Invincible Ibis, Patch Of Cosmo, Sagacious Life and Beauty Bolt stepped out in both of the first two legs.
As far as form goes, only two runners enter the Derby off the back of victories, with Emblazon on a heater and in search of a fifth-straight victory and Stormy Grove riding high on the back of consecutive successes capped by Hong Kong Classic Cup glory.
Luke Ferraris’ mount Dazzling Fit has won three times in eleven starts and provides a huge opportunity for Ferraris and trainer David Eustace.
Finally, one of the biggest talking points of each year’s Derby is the ability to stay the 2000m trip.
Only three horses have already run over 2000m – Numbers, Sagacious Life and Seraph Gabriel – and while Sagacious Life is a G1 winner over 2400m, Numbers is the only galloper in the Derby field to actually salute over 10 furlongs.
Okavango Could End A 56-Year-Old Trend
The Justin Snaith-trained Okavango put up a fine Champions Season pipe-opener by winning the Listed King’s Cup (Picture: Race Coast)
The Listed King’s Cup, which was run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville over 1600m on Sunday, was once viewed as a fair Hollywoodbets Durban July pointer and this year’s winner Okavango put himself in line to become the third horse in history to do the King’s Cup/July double.
The 1967 July winner Jollify, who dead-heated in that famous race with the immortal Sea Cottage, won the King’s Cup on the way to that joint-victory and the 1969 July winner Naval Escort, who was a half-brother to Sea Cottage, also won the King’s Cup in the build up.
No fewer than 56 renewals of the King’s Cup have passed without their being another King’s Cup July/double, but on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, the Justin Snaith-trained Okavango gave hope that the sequence could end, because considering his fine WSB Met fourth place finish and his high 123 merit rating he should be in the Hollywoodbets Durban July final field.
In the Listed 1600m race yesterday the Master Of My Fate four-year-old gelding took the lead from a wide draw and staying on gamely in the straight under Tristan Godden, he managed to repel the favourite King Pelles despite carrying 63kg and giving the latter 1kg.
JP’s Palace, Field Marshall and Shoot The Rapids were the next three home but were well beaten.
The first race of the meeting, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m, saw a fluent victory for the 33/20 shot, the Kom Naidoo-trained Vercingetorix filly Cherryblossompink. Anushka (Declarationofpeace) had been a touch unlucky when beaten 1,70 lengths by Cherryblossompink in their previous start, but that was the latter’s debut and she now had the advantage of expected improvemement. Cherryblossompink pinged the gates under Keagan de Melo and Anushka managed to slot in behind her. Anushka looked the winner for a brief moment after switching outward at the 400m and ranging alongside Cherryblssompink, but she began tiring close to home. De Melo had left a bit in the tank and Cherryblossompink repelled Anushka to win by 0,70 lengths.
De Melo won the second too when traveling well throughout on the Nathan Kotzen-trained Hawwaam filly Luthando, who cruised to a cosy 1,10 length victory over the Dean Kannemeyer-trained first-timer Flying Fate (Master Of MY Fate), who drifted from 4/1 out to 16/1, but stayed on well from a handy position.
In the third race over 1000m the Michael Roberts-trained Fleur De Ling (New Predator) is never going to Hollywood, but in an uninspiring contest her second place finish last time over the course and distance was stand out form and she started 91/100 favourite. She never looked in danger of defeat and was chased home by the Paul Lafferty-trained Splash Of Love, who was returning from a seven month layoff but was interesting over a drop in trip because she had finished just 5,60 lengths back in a decent field over 1200m at this course on debut in April last year. Her strong finish carried her to a 1,50 length second and she should pay to follow in similar strength fields.
In the fourth over 1400m the province’s reigning champion trainer and current leading trainer Gareth van Zyl had Past Is Prologue involved. She won her maiden over 1200m third time out and the progeny of Futura are always going to improve as four-year-olds if not rushed. She was also going to enjoy the step up in trip and the good pace set by known front-runner Sneeuwitjie aided her cause. The ever-improving Nicholas Patel got her home by 1,30 lengths from the favourite Spirit Of Shimla.
In the fifth race over 1950m Sword Speed, by William Longsword out of the Galileo mare Zippy Zitter, relished the step up in trip and stayed on well from a handy position to beat Go Grayson Go by 0,80 lengths. Trainer Alyson Wright said afterwards winning was a prerequisite for the connections to have a tilt at the Gr 1 SA Derby.
In the sixth over 1600m the Stuart Ferrie-trained Master Bomber (Lancaster Bomber), was given a fine ride by Serino Moodley to get the bettet of Tyrconnell in a thrilling finish.
In the eighth over 1000m the Paul Gadsby-trained Vercingetorix mare Vision To Achieve made it a sixth career win when getting up by 0,80 lengths under Rachel Venniker from Wings Of Josephine.
Vercingetorix made it a third win on the day in the next over 1000m when 4kg claimer Sifisokuhle Bungane steered the Glen Kotzen-trained four-year-old gelding Circumbendibus to an easy 3,10 length victory.
The last race over 1000m saw a thrilling dead-heat between the Michael Roberts-trained Jane’s Vision (Visionaire) and the Glen Kotzen-trained Call Of The Karoo (William Longsword) under riders Rachel Venniker and Chad Little respectively.
Il Etait Temps And Stablemates To Be Given Hero's Welcome
Hollywood Racing and Barnane Stud-owned Il Etait Temps became an equine hero last Wednesday when landing the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. It was his 7th and most important Gr 1 victory (Picture: Hollywood Racing)
Sarah Slater (breakingnews.ie)
A County Carlow village is once again preparing to welcome home the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning horse and rider, who on this occasion are Gaelic Warrior and Paul Townend.
Townend is now out on his own as the only rider to win five Gold Cups, just one more than Pat Taaffe, who steered Arkle to all three of his victories in the 1960s.
Gaelic Warrior and his stablemates, Lossiemouth, the Champion Hurdle Challenge winner and II Etait Temps, the Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, along with the five-time Gold Cup winning jockey and trainer Willie Mullins, will be given a hero’s welcome in the village of Leighlinbridge on Wednesday.
Hundreds of people are expected to descend on the village to catch a glimpse of the Closutton based trainer and the winning horses from last week’s four day racing festival.
The festivities get underway at 5pm from the Lord Bagenal Inn.
Mullins, too joined Townend as he became a five-time winning Gold Cup trainer last week thanks to Gaelic Warrior, joining Tom Dreaper, Arkle’s trainer, as the co-holder of the all-time record.
The Co Carlow-based trainer has also won the Grand National three times, first with Hedgehunter in 2005, followed with I Am Maximus in 2024, and then last year.
Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival, with over 120 winners. He has been crowned Irish National Hunt Champion Trainer 19 times as of March this year.
The trainer has dominated the Irish championship, winning every year since the 2008/2009 season and has been British Champion Trainer twice in the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons.
Twelve months ago English Grand National champion Nick Rockett was paraded through the same village as part of Mullins’ multi winning stable yard.
Today's Question
What was the longest price Sea Cottage was at for one of his 20 wins?
The picture is of the July dead-heaters Jollify and Sea Cottage
FIELDS, Wednsday, 18 March
Hollywoodbets Durbanville
Today’s Question Answer
Sea Cottage was a 9/2 shot when he won the Gr 1 Newbury Stakes over 1200m at Greyville in the May of his three-year-old season and he beat the 5/2 favourite William Penn by 2,50 lengths. He received two pounds from the older horse.
