”Yeah but look at how Mullins has handled and maximised the potential of his stars”
Willie is a brilliant trainer but he’s had all sorts of issues with plenty of good horses in the past. You don’t notice it as much as he always has another star to replace the injured horse.
Willie’s true genius for me, has always been his ability to get the good horses before everyone else. He essentially has the French market sowed up with Henderson pretty much the only other trainer getting the occasional star.
I use to be extremely critical of Willie for not being able to keep his top horses sound so there’s plenty he failed to maximize their potential.
Below is a thread I created a few years back and there’s plenty more you could add to the list now :
His handling of El Fabiolo has been poor also. That horse should’ve been sent back hurdling a long time ago. Had all the ability to challenge for a champion hurdle.
Where Willie excels vs Hendo is balls. Henderson has lost his in his old age.
Shishkin was an absolute superstar and should’ve won a Gold Cup but the man refuses to take a chance. You could clearly see even when he won the Supreme, that he wasn’t a 2 miler.
Willie would’ve won a Gold Cup with that horse 100%