15 February 2024 , 10:12
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A former star of England’s white ball cricket team is hoping to stump his rivals at the Cheltenham Festival with the help of record-breaking trainer Willie Mullins.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter was man of the match in the final of the 2010 World Twenty20 and since retirement has become a professional golfer and joined his family's operation breeding and owning racehorses.
The family’s Barnane Stud enjoyed Royal Ascot success in 2022 and is now seeking to strike at Cheltenham with Il Etait Temps.
Owned with the Heffer family’s Hollywood Syndicate, the six-year-old struck at the Dublin Racing Festival for the second year in a row and is second favourite for the Arkle Trophy.
South Africa-born Kieswetter played 71 times for England in white-ball internationals and is also a scratch golfer, having competed on both the PGA EuroPro Tour and MENA Golf Tour since his retirement from cricket.
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He has a glowing opinion of Il Etait Temps’ trainer Mullins, the 17-time Irish champion jumps trainer and winner of 94 races at the Cheltenham Festival.
“He’s probably along the lines of a Messi or Ronaldo or a Schumacher – he’s a champion,” said Kieswetter.
“He’s going to go down as one of the all-time greats, but there is still plenty of life in the old dog yet.
“He certainly isn’t ready to hand over the reins yet and you can see how passionate and energetic and driven he is to keep winning and getting the results.”
Danny Mullins celebrates victory on Il Etait Temps (©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)Mullins won all eight Group 1 races at the Dublin Festival, prompting questions as to whether his domination was bad for racing.
“I have read articles questioning if it is good for the industry that Willie is dominating, but at the end of the day, Willie Mullins provides results and this is a results-based sport,” continued Kieswetter.
“His results speak for themselves and we have always been delighted to be associated with him.
“He’s set up a model at his yard that works and I think it is a bit unfair for the industry to be having a crack at him and saying it is the Willie Mullins Festival. The drive at the yard is very impressive and very fun to be a small part of.”