Galway Festival: Danny Mullins landed an incredible 403-1 hat-trick on Cristal Island, Glitter Baby and Metal Madness at the Galway Festival evening meeting at Ballybrit.
The 16-year-old son of trainers Tony and Margaret Mullins only rode his first winner in May yet took Ballybrit by storm.
The middle leg of his terrific treble came on Glitter Baby (20-1) in the feature Arthur Guinness Handicap.
Following trainer Paul Cashman's instructions, the 7lb claimer had the mare tucked away on the rails in the early stages before bringing her through into a challenging position on the home turn.
She surged clear to score by four lengths from Zafar with Heavenly Blues third, another two-and-a-half lengths away.
"It's been a very good evening. I was hoping for a winner and now I've got three with one in the feature race. It's great," said Mullins.
Mullins, who rode 126 winners on the Irish pony circuit, is apprenticed to Jim Bolger and Cashman was full of praise.
"The key to her is get her some cover so I told Danny to keep her on the rail if he could. He rode the race to a tee and gave her a super ride," said the Cork trainer, who was celebrating his biggest success.
"Johnny Murtagh rode her the last day and said she got no cover early on and she was a bit keen.
"She was Listed placed in England (Warwickshire Oaks). I got the mare last Christmas when she came to the yard to be covered. She didn't get in foal.
"She'll go for a Listed or Group race next between a mile-and-a-half and a mile and six."
Mullins had earlier struck for his uncle Thomas on Cristal Island in the Guinness Auction Maiden.
The 7-4 favourite had opened up a healthy lead on the turn for home but she was all out to hold Dactik by a short head at the line.
The successful trainer said: "That was a brave performance. She was in front for a long time and a lesser filly would have been beaten.
"She'll have a small break now as she had a hard race. We may go to the Sportsman's Challenge at the Curragh."
Mullins completed his remarkable trio on Metal Madness (6-1) for Newmarket trainer Mick Quinlan in the Arthur Guinness Handicap.
Taking it up some way out thanks to a dream run up the inner, Metal Madness looked like giving way in the straight but he stuck to his guns to beat Golden Tokyo by half a length with Stan Moore's Zulu Princess third.
Danny Mullins' cousin Patrick also got in on the act with victory on Truckers Delight in the opening the Guinness (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle.
The 11-2 joint-favourite stormed to an eight-length success over Ringned with his market rival Arkendale a further length and three-quarters back in third.
Moving into third place at the second last, Truckers Delight led at the final flight before going on to win in good style.
The winner is now set to make his third appearance at the Galway Festival of the week. Fourth in a maiden hurdle on Tuesday, he has been declared by his trainer John Hanlon for tomorrow's Freshways Handicap Hurdle.
"He came back to us from Jonjo O'Neill's about six or seven weeks ago, we had him as a point-to-pointer originally," said Hanlon.
"He ran here on Tuesday and I was amazed how well he ran as I was afraid he was a bit short of work.
"He will run again tomorrow as he is a hardy horse."
Torrid Kentavr (15-2) denied Patrick Mullins' father Willie a triumph in the Tony O'Malley Memorial Handicap Chase.
A close third in this race 12 months ago, James Lambe's 11-year-old made amends this time in the hands of David Casey.
"I always thought he was a high-class horse. He's run well at the Festival in the past and he was trained specifically for this race. David gave him a great ride," said Lambe.
Aidan O'Brien got into the winner's circle when Mikhail Fokine (2-1) defeated Dermot Weld's odds-on shot Matters At Hand by three-quarters of a length in the Galway Publican's EBF Maiden.
Galway Results
5.10 Guinness (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle
1st Truckers Delight (IRE) 11/2 JF 17
2nd Ringned (IRE) 9/1
3rd Arkendale (IRE) 11/2 JF
4th Erra Go On (GB) 16/1
5.40 Guinness Auction Maiden
1st Cristal Island (IRE) 7/4F
2nd Dactik (IRE) 6/1
3rd Tatacoa (IRE) 10/1
4th Miss Minnies (IRE) 14/1
6.15 Tony O'Malley Memorial Handicap Steeplechase
1st Torrid Kentavr (USA) 15/2
2nd Davenport Democrat (IRE) 10/3
3rd Monty Mint (IRE) 6/1
4th Lukie Victor (IRE) 5/2F
6.50 Guinness Handicap
1st Glitter Baby (IRE) 20/1
2nd Zafar (IRE) 8/1
3rd Heavenly Blues (GER) 9/1
4th Davorin (JPN) 12/1
7.25 Galway Publican's EBF Maiden
1st Mikhail Fokine (IRE) 2/1
2nd Matters At Hand (IRE) 8/11F
3rd Skiathos Queen (IRE) 50/1
4th Manor Park (IRE) 7/1
7.55 Arthur Guinness Handicap
1st Metal Madness (IRE) 6/1
2nd Golden Tokyo (IRE) 12/1
3rd Zulu Princess (IRE) 3/1F
4th Dirtybirdie (GB) 7/1
8.30 St.James's Gate Race
1st Sophocles (GB) 7/2
2nd Prince Erik (GB) 7/4
3rd Alarazi (IRE) 6/4F
4th Savannah (GB) 10/1