Ryanair owner Michael O'Leary and renowned horse trainer Willie Mullins are back in business with one another, six years after their acrimonious split.
It was six years ago this month that O'Leary's Gigginstown house stud withdrew 60 horses from Mullins' services in a dispute over the trainers decision to raise fees.
At the time both men appeared to be unwilling to budge on their position. Since then, a breakthrough in the disagreement has been made and in an interview with The Racing Post Gigginstown's racing manager Eddie O'Leary confirmed the news.
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"It's a long road that doesn't turn!" Eddie O'Leary said when he was asked about the decision to become partners with Mullins once more.
"We've always been very, very friendly with Willie and that never changed over the last few years. We're thrilled to have a couple of horses back with him. Shanbally Kid will be one of them and there are a few others as well, including two stores from the Derby and Land Rover sales."
He added: "You'd have to be impressed by what Shanbally Kid did at Clonmel. He looked very, very good there. He powered through the race and, if you forget his first run at Thurles when he might not have been right, you would like to think he could be a very nice horse.
A reunion between the two has long been mooted, with O'Leary suggesting a couple of years ago that joining forces with Mullins again would be something that he would consider.
Mullins has already reacted to the news by releasing a statement which reads: "We're delighted to renew acquaintances with Gigginstown and to train horses for them once again."
"We've been very lucky with them over the years and hopefully we will be lucky again."
Gigginstown and Mullins were the dominant duo in racing at the time of the split. Mullins had just been crowned champion trainer for the ninth season in a row, while Gigginstown had been awarded champion owner.
However the rift arose when Mullins decided to raise his training fees by 10 percent. O'Leary decided not to pay the extra amount, and pulled his horses from Mullins.
"We’re parting company – it’s basically over fees, I imagine," Mullins told At The Races shortly after the split.
"I put up my fees for the first time in 10 years and Gigginstown chose not to pay them."
"That’s it, we’re just parting company."
“I’m not willing to try to maintain the standards I have (without putting the fees up), so that’s the way it is.”
Gigginstown and Mullins formed a formidable partnership during their first few years in business together. They won 17 grade one races together in a period spanning five years with Sir des Champs, Outlander and Apples Jade being some of the most famous horses associated with the duo.
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