Koroleva (left) is ridden out by Patrick Mullins to beat Pike County & Conor Orr© Photo Healy Racing
Patrick Mullins recorded his 544th success, as he partnered Koroleva to victory in the last at Cork this evening, the Cork Rocks Music Night At Cork INH Flat Race.
Trained by his father Willie (completing a double on the card), this seven-year-old daughter of King's Theatre was sent off a 5/2 joint-favourite, with the winning rider later stating: "HRI tell me that leaves me one short of Ted Walsh's record of 545 amateur winners.
"That's my 544th so I need another two to beat it and John Randall (British racing historian) says there is nobody in England like that with that number and I think it's the same in France so it would be nice to get it."
In the race itself Koroleva, who was a well-beaten sixth on her last start at Downpatrick, had a great battle with Pike County from two furlongs out, with just half a length separating them at the line.
The Denise Foster trained runner-up was returned a well-backed 8/1 chance, opening on-course at 10s, having been available at 25s in the morning.
The front pair went seven lengths clear of Eloping (14s to 11s) in third, while the other joint-favourite Point Break (backed from 7/2) finished a disappointing sixth.
The winning rider added: "That's brilliant as the boys (the Pat Hayes Racing Syndicate) have her leased after she got injured at Listowel last year and we trained her a little different this year.
"She is quite highly strung and wears the hood, but settled today and that obviously made a big difference.
"The last time she ran well was also at a flat galloping track in Killarney and that seems to be the key to her."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
