Last season's champion apprentice off the mark for 2025 Last season’s champion apprentice James Ryan registered his first win of 2025 today, landing Dundalk’s opening Group Deals Available At Dundalk Stadium Maiden on the Tom Mullins-trained Tropical Retreat (2/1jf). Purchased by Mullins for €30,000 at the 2023 Orby Sale, the Bungle Inthejungle-sired filly today improved on a December-debut fourth-placing when travelling well through her race to score snugly from Tino Pai. Mullins said "the drop back in trip worked lovely, she has plenty of speed and there is plenty of speed in the family. She will get the six (furlongs) alright because she is very chilled out. She didn't do a stroke when she got to the front today, she was waiting for them. "There was plenty of promise in the first run and she duly obliged. I was expecting her to come on from the first day. “I was glad they put this race on at a late stage and was glad to get it. "James (Ryan) is a lovely rider and has his head about him all the time: I often let him do his own thing, I wouldn't be instructing him too much at all." Quotes from Michael Graham
