Family Breeding Success Spans Generations
Goldie revealed the emotional significance of the victory, explaining his long association with the family. "I have trained the family for three generations, so it's very sweet. This horse's grandfather [Orientor] had his day here, so we're pretty lucky that we can breed horses like that." The trainer's faith in American Affair has been rewarded as the gelding continues developing his speed capabilities. "American Affair is just getting faster. We went seven furlongs at Wetherby in his maiden, but we've learnt to run him over the right trip. We took him back to five and he is just getting better and better." Goldie had arrived with confidence in his charge's ability. "I was quite confident he could do it. He has the talent. I knew he was probably one of the fastest horses in the race, but it's how you control that. We've come down early, got him relaxed and it all fell into place. It means a lot."
Jockey Celebrates Career-Defining Moment
Mulrennan described the smooth passage that enabled the victory. "It all went pretty smooth, I got a lovely tow along there. We just tweaked a couple of things putting a hood on him. The last day nothing went right at Haydock. Jim has always had a lot of faith in American Affair, and he is a good horse." The jockey reflected on the horse's progression from longer distances. "I first won his maiden on him over seven furlongs around Wetherby, which is hard to believe. And then he started getting sharper and sharper. I rode him one day at York over seven and he proper latched on and I said to Jim 'I think this lad could be a sprinter'. He has just got quicker as he's got older, as do a lot of sprinters." Mulrennan emphasised the significance of competing at Royal Ascot. "I am a northern jockey. I am riding Monday-to-Friday horses. To get here, just to come here and have a ride here is special. This is our Olympics. You're riding with Ryan Moore, Christoph Soumillon and William Buick, the best jockeys in the world."
