Mullins in no rush with exciting Zero Ten Emmet Mullins is in no rush to make plans for Zero Ten following his winning debut over fences at the Galway Festival. Having won a bumper and three of his four starts over hurdles - including a lucrative success at the Punchestown Festival in May - the six-year-old was unsurprisingly prohibitive odds to make a winning start over the larger obstacles at Ballybrit. However, while he ultimately rewarded odds-on backers with victory, his jumping failed to convince and Mullins feels there could be an underlying problem. He said: “His jumping was a little bit sketchy in the early part of the race, but it was nice he won. “He wasn’t quite right after the race and he’s still not right now. We haven’t quite put out finger on what the problem is, so hopefully we can sort that out as he’s an exciting horse for the future.” Overall it was an excellent week for the fledgling trainer as he enjoyed three winners and a second from just six winners at the showpiece meeting. Russian Diamond opened his account in the bumper on the opening night under Derek O’Connor, while stablemate Rocket Lad claimed his second bumper success on the final day of the meeting in the hands of the trainer's partner, Ruth Dudfield. "We've always thought plenty of Russian Diamond and we were very disappointed with his first run at Christmas," said Mullins. "The break obviously did him good, he did it well the other day and he might get another little break now as we’re in no great rush with him. "He’s a lovely horse, so we’ll take our time and I’d imagine he’ll probably go straight over hurdles later in the year." Rocket Lad went through the ring at the Goffs UK August Sale at Doncaster earlier this week, but was unsold at 95,000 pounds and Mullins is more than happy he remains in the yard. He added: "The ground had gone soft by the time he ran after all the rain, but he seems a very versatile horse and did it very well from the front. "He’s got a big engine underneath him. Whenever the second horse came at him he went again. "He’ll probably go hurdling, too. I have him entered in a Flat maiden in Tramore as it’s another race Ruth (Dudfield) can ride him in and she’s won two on him already, including a race at Tramore. "We’ll see how he is, but either way he’s a very exciting horse and I’m happy to have him."
