Family affairs bring joy for Mulvany
Eighteen years on from celebrating his first official winner as a trainer thanks to Lady Bolino in a Downpatrick bumper, Mick Mulvany's appetite for winners remains ravenous
Indeed, it was also at Listowel where Mulvany celebrated the most memorable moment of his training career.
When asked for his highlight over the last two decades, Mulvany replied: "It would have to be On The Go Again winning the big Lartigue Hurdle down in Listowel in 2017. That was really special.
"It was the first year the race was named after Liam Healy [famous racing photographer] and it was a real family affair for us. We bred On The Go Again, owned him, trained him and my nephew Ross [O'Sullivan] even rode him. Now that's what you call a proper family success. It was a magic day and there is always a great atmosphere down in Listowel. It's a day I'll never forget anyway.
On The Go Again was in Mulvany's green and pink silks and those were the colours worn by stable stalwarts, Tough As Nails.
"He was some bit of stuff," Mulvany said of Tough As Nails, who won a Tipperary maiden by seven lengths on his second racecourse appearance before finishing second in the Group 1 Railway Stakes at the Curragh and third in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the same venue. He had a peak rating of 112 during that stunning season as a two-year-old.
"Not only was he a great racehorse, but he has bred a lot of winners for us. He was very lucky for us and we were blessed to have him."
Tough As Nails bred winners Silver Service, Tough Remedy, The King Of Kells and Take My Hand among others and has played a huge part in the Mulvany success story.
The next generation of Mulvany is now learning his trade, Mick's son Larry.
"Larry is out in Kentucky with Brendan Walsh," Mulvany said.
"He's loving it. He was keen to see how it all works in different parts of the world and it will be a great learning experience for him. He has a great interest in things and I've no doubt he will come back more knowledgeable."
Summing up his life in racing, he said: "It's a drug to me. Our operation is a real family affair with my brother Larry and my nephew, as well. He's my farrier, too, as well as riding out. Then Wesley [Joyce], Terry Casey and Jack Carroll all come in and ride out, too."
The Mulvany machine remains in perfect working order.
All the fixtures for Navan and Fairyhouse racecourses can be found on www.navanracecourse.ie and www.fairyhouse.ie