The paths of these two stars have intersected on several occasions due to their association with the luxury brand Bulgari
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Richard Mullen knows the taste of success on a night as big as the Dubai World Cup. The two-time UAE Champion Jockey remembers vividly, his first Group 1 winner, when the great Reynaldothewizard triumphed in the Dubai Golden Shaheen in 2013.
But Mullen, now 43, wants to know what it is like to win the biggest prize of them all - the Dubai World Cup. Denied last time, the Briton perhaps has his best crack at the $12 million race when he lines up on the gifted North America at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday night.
In a freewheeling exclusive chat with the Khaleej Times, Mullen speaks about North America, the disappointment of last year and what it would mean to triumph in the creme de la creme.
Excerpts:
THE DRAW:
Happy with it. All being well, the horse is in good form and we will see what happens. It is going to be tough obviously, Capezzano in stall 2, so with two speed horses in the race. But three is better than 13 isn't it?
THE BATTLE:
We know he has to step up his game again. We are under no illusions there. Capezzano has been the most improved horse through the season. Salem bin Ghadayer and his team have done an amazing job with him. He has really improved and then you had to be very impressed with what he did to Thunder Snow in round 3. At the same time, you would expect Thunder Snow to be a completely different kettle of fish, come Saturday. But it is not a three-horse race. The guys from America haven't come just to participate. They have come here with what I think is a strong hand. And you don't expect it to be a given. It's the world's richest race so, you expect it to be tough. I just hope the horse breaks on terms and he shows his true running because if he does, he's got a chance.
ICING ON THE CAKE:
Victory in this race, I would die a happy man. This is the one race I always wanted to win. You could give me a Kentucky Derby, an Epsom Derby, a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, not that I have no interest but, if I could pick one race, I've been here over 20 years now.
This is home, this is where I've had most of my success. I had my first Group 1 winner with Reynaldo in the Golden Shaheen. So, it is home for me and my family and it would mean everything for me. I could possibly say I would retire if I won it. I won't but it would be one of those moments, there would be an awful lot of tears and it would be very emotional. What I love is, not just for me but Satish (Seemar), you know. He's been the flagbearer of Dubai racing for many years. He's been my strongest supporter throughout my career. So, more so for him and every in Zabeel because it would be like a homegrown winner. We've had success on the big stage but this is the icing on the cake. It doesn't get any bigger than that.
REFLECTION:
Look, it is always disappointing because we had extremely high hopes. But the interesting thing with last year was I remember, after the race I was pretty inconsolable. That was very hard to take. Funniest was my son came racing and I walked out of the weighing room after I had got showered and he was stood by the jockeys room and he just looked at me and he said: 'That wasn't meant to happen, dad.' And he just hugged me and I was like what can you do. At that time as well, we had had some real bad news about Pat
Smullen. And you just reflect on things and think, you know what, it is a horse race, the horse is in one piece, he's sound, we have got him for next year, we will have another go. And I think, if it is not meant to be, it is not meant to be. It is in the lap of the God. So, hopefully, it is third time lucky for the horse. Godolphin Mile was a disaster, last year was a disaster. Third time lucky, he's drawn three...maybe there's something written in the stars. So,
Inshallah, we give it our best shot.
FAIRYTALE
ENDING:
We wouldn't have had a horse like this if it wasn't for the sale. His Highness was very, very generous and put in his horses in the sale. And without that sale, we don't get these horses. You cannot buy these horses. They are true blue blood. They don't belong in your average joe's names, you know. So, it is all thanks to them and I can say, it is great to be part of it and like I say, without that sale and the fact that we got it. It would be great for a local trainer. It has all the hallmarks of a Hollywood movie.
Hopefully, that happens, fingers crossed we have a fairytale ending.
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