Greyhounds: 1,000 wins and counting for Derry man William Mullan

The Monday evening race meeting Brandywell was cancelled due to the Derry City home game, yet it’s a local man that has deservedly earned the headlines this week.

William Mullan went into the history books when he reached an incredible 1,000 winners as a Professional Trainer after Mc Duff won at Lifford last week.

With the Brandywell Greyhound Stadium on his doorstep it comes as no surprise that William Mullan was born into a family that loved greyhounds and greyhound racing. Learning the necessary skills from his father, William took out his Trainer’s licence when he was old enough and has spent most of his life diligently caring for this wonderful breed.

His brothers, Damien, Hugo and Tommy have also kept actively involved with the sport over the decades and his nephews Tom, Jack and Ciaran all have gained the knowledge and hands on experience necessary to ensure the Mullan’s family name is associated with the sport for years to come.

With successes too numerous to mention, William’s dogs have won at tracks the length and breadth of the country. They’ve won on the big stage and at the regular race meetings but regardless of their athletic ability, all his dogs get a high standard of individualised care and attention.

There had been a time, when Lifford was closed, that having his 1,000th winner on the hallowed sand of Lifford was but a dream and William expressed his sincere appreciation for all those who invested in the Stadium and got it operational again.

Race 4 - The NORTHWEST GREYHOUND SUPPLIES A2/A3 TRI DISTANCE Round 1 Heat 2 (525 yards) was won in 28.78 by PIVATOL TIME. With Cody McClelland.

When asked if his next target would be 2,000 winners, he acknowledged that it took a lifetime to get to this current milestone and casted a sideways glance to his nephew, suggesting that’s a baton that would be handed over to the next generation of Mullans’ to aim for.

So this is just Part 1 of the story and Part 2 may take just a few more years to write.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Kindly sponsored by Northwest Greyhound Supplies & the NWGOBA, the opening round heats of the similarly named A2/A3 Tri-Distance got off to a flier at Lifford Stadium on Sunday evening and the standout performance was that of No Sock Gar in the concluding heat of the stake. 

In what looked a hugely competitive stake prior to the opening round, the 525-yard leg produced in abundance and No Sock Gar delivered on several whispers surrounding his talents prior to taking to traps.

Sent off as the 6/4 favourite, the son of Malachi and Fast Fit Maeve came into the event with a sparkling 17.49 trial and he displayed massive early dash to take control on the run-up from trap four. From here, Patrick McIntyre and Dan McGilloway’s June pup drew clear of his rivals down the back before maintaining a relentless gallop on the run for home.

Race 5 - The NORTHWEST GREYHOUND SUPPLIES A2/A3 TRI DISTANCE Round 1 Heat 3 (525 yards) was won by UNRELIABLE in 29.22. With Tom Mullan.

Showing that the step-up to 550 next time out shouldn’t prove an issue, No Sock Gar crossed the line over five lengths clear of Eager Aine in second, while Blackstone Aldo produced his trademark big finish to seal the third qualifying spot. The time was a blistering 28.74. 

In heat one, Quivers Nando left it late but he sealed back-to-back wins at the Northwest venue with a determined performance for his Monaghan handler, Benny Treanor.

In a race where the lead changed hands on three occasions, it was Unwanted Present who bolted from trap four to lead early. Steering a wide course was Quivers Nando and he swept the opening turn to get into contention, while Shes Cool was also battling for supremacy on the inside.

Race 2 - The LYNAS S2 325 was won by GORTIN SID in 17.54. With Darragh McGhee.

Nip and tuck down the back, it was three in a line turning for home, however, Quivers Nando, a son of Airmount Nando and Quivershillcroft, stayed on best of all to cross the line just a neck clear of Unwanted Present in another rapid time of 28.86. 

Pivotal Time is quickly becoming something of a track specialist at Lifford and Kelmore McConaghie’s charge sealed another flawless victory in a competitive heat two, making it four wins from her last five starts. Sent to traps as the 2/1 favourite, Pivotal Time was expected to produce another one of her ping breaks from two and she did just that to comfortably lead on the run to the opener.

Follom Fleet set off in chase heading into the back, however, the daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Pro Melody is a tough nut to crack when on the bunny. Tuttles Bruno, who was some ten lengths adrift early on did make rapid inroads in the closing yards and will be a force in the stake going forward; however, on this occasion it was too little too late as Pivotal Time crossed the line to win in comfortable fashion. The time was 28.78. 

Evergreen

The remaining heat was landed by the evergreen Unreliable as he once again proved he has plenty in the tank despite his timestamp. Owned by Willie Mullan, who notched up 1000 career winners last weekend, Unreliable duly made it 1001 for the Derry handler with another polished performance. A July 19’ whelp, the son of Over Limit and Kittys Box broke well from red, however, was tapped for early pace by Xhaka, who was chasing back-to-back wins.

Race 8 - The GOODNIGHT AND SAFE HOME S1 325 was won by DROMRICH SHADOW in 17.61. With Michael McKenny.

A stout stayer, Unreliable (5/2) never accepts defeat and despite looking destined to finish second, he upped the ante around the final turn to finish with a wet sail to seal a short-head victory. A thoroughly brilliant servant for the Mullan kennel, the time was 29.22.

Earlier in the card, Gortin Sid delivered a clinic in race two for Niall and Darragh McGhee. An April son of Droopys Sydney and the brilliant Nemesis, the strapping blue looked well-handicapped and his starting price suggested as much when installed the even money favourite.

Slowly into stride from two, ‘Sid’ immediately excelled into the opening corner to take charge and it was lights out thereafter for his rivals. Pescadero made a fine fist of it in second, however, ‘Sid’ was always in control and crossed the line one and a quarter lengths clear of his rival, in a slick 17.54. 

Race seven was the ‘Congratulations Willie Mullan A4 525’ and this was landed by another fan favourite, Eager Colm. Known for his blistering starts out wide, conditions looked perfect for Damien McConville’s tracker and he certainly thrived early on with his trademark ping start from the stripes.

Spencer Saberton, Racing Manager, (left of photo) at Lifford presents William Mullan with a trophy in recognition of his achievement in training 1,000 winners. Beside William is his nephew Tom Mullan & Janine Barber.

Chased by Dance Cooper down the back, the leader looked like a sitting duck rounding the bottom two bends, however, the son of Drumcrow Trump battled hard to make every inch of the running.

Just a neck between the pair crossing the line, ‘Colm’ sealed an amazing seventeenth career victory, in a time of 29.10. As fate would have it, in the race named after him, Dance Cooper’s runner up place brought William Mullan’s official tally of second place finishers that he has trained, up to the 1,000 milestone too.