1,000-up Paul Mulrennan has high hopes for Mabs Cross at Royal Ascot

Paul Mulrennan spoke of his pride at reaching 1,000 winners on Sunday and will be riding the crest of a wave into the opening day of Royal Ascot when he partners star sprinter Mabs Cross in an exhilarating King's Stand Stakes.

The 37-year-old reached the landmark aboard Camacho Chief at Doncaster for trainer Michael Dods and became the fourth jockey this year to reach 1,000 Flat winners in Britain after John Egan, Richard Kingscote and Danny Tudhope.

"I'm very proud to have done it," he said. "It's a sign of a good work ethic and sticking at it – there are lots of ups and downs in this game with injuries and one thing or another.

"There are a lot of bigger and better jockeys than me who haven't done it. To be among the likes of Pat Eddery, Frankie Dettori and the other boys who have done it makes me very proud."

Dods will be providing the jockey with the chance to gain potentially the biggest win of his career on Tuesday when he partners Mabs Cross in one of the highlights of the royal meeting.

The five-year-old finished third behind Blue Point and Battaash in the sprint showdown last year, but that was on good to firm ground, and her rider believes conditions will be in the mare's favour this time.

"The ground will be absolutely A1 because we've had a bit of rain so it will be like a carpet," said Mulrennan, who was sidelined by injury when Mabs Cross won the Prix de l'Abbaye last autumn.

The jockey, who won two Group 1s on Mecca's Angel, was back on board Mabs Cross for her win in the Palace House Stakes and when third behind Battaash in the Temple Stakes at Haydock.

"A stiff five furlongs really suits her," Mulrennan said. "She's come out of the race at Haydock unbelievably well. She had a penalty, it's a sharp five there and it was lightning fast ground, which was all against her.

"At Ascot it's a stiff five and she's a warm-up filly, she comes good in the second half of the race so the course suits her."

Mulrennan, who won the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot on Dandino in 2010, is also looking forward to Wednesday's Royal Hunt Cup.

"I ride What's The Story for Keith Dalgleish," he said. "He was fourth last year and won nicely at York in May – fingers crossed it could be a good week."

The first three home in last year's King's Stand were among a field of 12 declared on Sunday, with Palace House fourth Sergei Prokofiev and 1,000 Guineas fifth Fairyland Aidan O'Brien's chosen representatives from seven confirmations.

Sergei Prokofiev: one of two O'Brien runners in the King's StandCredit: Patrick McCann

"Five furlongs is Sergei Prokofiev's ideal trip. He ran well when fourth in the Palace House Stakes last time and we've been happy with him since," said O'Brien.

"Fairyland will be running over the distance for the first time but she has always shown plenty of speed and is a Group 1 winner over six furlongs. We've been happy with her since her run in the Irish 1,000 Guineas."

The ground at Ascot remained good to soft on the straight course and good to soft, soft in places on Sunday but Chris Stickels, clerk of the course, expects good ground for Tuesday.

He said: “I’m anticipating it’ll probably change to good on Monday. I think it’ll be good on the straight course before racing on Tuesday with the round course probably good to soft, but we’ll see.”

Paul Mulrennan CV

Full name Paul John Mulrennan

Born April 22, 1982

Apprenticed to Patrick Haslam, Middleham, North Yorkshire; Mick Easterby, Sheriff Hutton, North Yorkshire

First winner Perchancer (trainer Patrick Haslam) Southwell, April 9, 2001

First big-race winner Blue Spinnaker (2004 Zetland Gold Cup)

First Group winner Gentleman's Deal (2007 Winter Derby)

Group 1 winner Mecca's Angel (2015 & 2016 Nunthorpe Stakes)

Group 2 winners Dandino (2011 Jockey Club Stakes), Moviesta (2013 King George Stakes), Mecca's Angel (2016 Sapphire Stakes)

Dual Group 3 winners Mecca's Angel (2014 World Trophy, 2015 Prix de Saint-Georges), Mabs Cross (2018 & 2019 Palace House Stakes)

Royal Ascot winner Dandino (2010 King George V Handicap)

Highest-rated mount Mecca's Angel (RPR 125, 2016 Nunthorpe Stakes)

1,000th win in Britain Camacho Chief, Doncaster, June 16, 2019

Most wins in a year in Britain 106 in 2016 (plus two in Ireland)

Compiled by John Randall

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