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Mick Mulvany heads to Royal Ascot: 'You don’t need to spend millions to don your top hat or posh frock'

Listowel 31-May-2025Trainer Mick MulvanyHealy Racing
© Healy Racing Photos

Mick Mulvany began his training career twenty one years ago and this year he will saddle not one but two colts at Royal Ascot, which will be the trainer's first trip to the Berkshire track.

One is by Calyx, a stallion who has passed away and the other by Arizona, who was despatched to Turkey. Both of Mulvany's were cheap purchases, proving you really don’t need to spend millions to be able to don your top hat and tails or posh frock.

In the Coventry Stakes on Tuesday, Mulvany’s duo will go into battle against some of the best bred two year olds in Europe.

The Scallionator

The Scallionator is by the late Calyx. In the year of conception Calyx’s fee was at its lowest, €10,000. He is out of an Acclamation mare and was purchased for a mere €10,000 at Tattersalls September Sale.

Bred by Bec Bloodstock and consigned by the Murphy Family of Redpender Stud. He has a nice page behind him so this really does look to be a super purchase by Eamonn Cleary, well bought!

The dam is a winner herself and produced another lovely two-year-old winner previously by Starspangledbanner named McTenett. The Scallionator has improved with each of his three runs.

Arizona Raider

Arizona Raider is by Arizona. A Coventry Stakes winner himself who once stood at Coolmore’s Castlehyde Stud before being despatched to Turkey in 2024.

His fee was always very small. When Arizona Raider was conceived it was a mere €5,000. He was offered at Goffs November Foal Sale by Castletown Stud and was vendored for €4,000, perhaps there was no interest in him or Arizona’s imminent dispatch was turning purchasers off.

Roscommon 18 5 26 Arizona Raider and Wesley Joyce win for trainer Michael Mulvany Roscommon 18 5 26 Arizona Raider and Wesley Joyce win for trainer Michael Mulvany
© Healy Racing Photos

Regardless, he was re-offered as a yearling at Goffs Autumn Sale, an open sale which requires no selection process, and was purchased by Mick Mulvany himself for €9,000. Arizona Raider, just like The Scallionator has improved with each of his runs.

Wesley Joyce has ridden both of Mick Mulvany’s colts in all of their runs thus far. I wonder which one he will choose to ride at Royal Ascot?

The Scallionator is priced at around 25-1, with Arizona Raider available at 66-1 for the Coventry Stakes.

About Holly Harte
Holly has over 20 years’ experience working across Bloodstock and Racing. She is an avid owner-breeder and co-owns a successful stud farm in Co. Kildare with her fiancé.