WE might only be on day one but the standout image to live long in the memory from the 2025 Galway Festival is already signed, sealed and delivered.

The emotional significance was not lost on any of the Ballybrit faithful as Alan O’Sullivan looked up to the heavens after crossing the line on front aboard Filey Bay in the feature Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders Handicap - delivering a cool-headed ride that his deeply-missed brother Michael would have been mightily proud of.

This €110,000 premier handicap is one of the gems of the amateur calendar in Ireland, and it was won with a gem of an effort from a 22-year-old going places fast.

Emmet Mullins, winning the prize for the second time in three years, had the J.P. McManus-owned nine-year-old in spectacular shape to execute what looked a long-range plan. A tidy gamble was landed in the process too, the dual-purpose winner backed down to 7/1 late on (from an opening ring price of 18/1).

The significance of this result was all about the rider’s first triumph at the Galway Festival, however, just five and a half months on from Michael’s passing. With the ‘MO’S’ initials branded into the saddle he rode with, he embodied the spirit of his brother in delivering a ride brimming with patience and confidence.

“It's unbelievable to win this race,” beamed O’Sullivan, before taking a moment to extend sympathies to the family of Edward O’Grady following the legendary trainer’s passing.

“I was riding for a good man today. I'm incredibly grateful to Mr McManus and to Mr [Frank] Berry, but especially to Emmet. He put his neck on the line to have me on this horse. I'm not one of Mr McManus's riders and understand he has to look after his riders; it's my first time riding in these colours.

"I've been in with Emmet the last month or so. I've sat on this fella a couple of times and just fell in love with the horse. If anyone else said it, I'd roll my eyes, but there was something special about him the minute I sat on him. To win this, it’s just crazy. When I got the call on Saturday at 10.30am to say that I was riding him, I tried not to get too excited over the phone but I was buzzing. It’s an unbelievable training performance.”

On how the four-and-three-quarter-length success over Mon Coeur unfolded, the 7lb claimer added: "I kind of half missed the break but it nearly helped me. I got stopped a couple of times but at the same time it probably helped me as well because he can be quite keen. He settled like a dream today. I probably went the brave man’s route, but I thought it was what Mikey would have done.

"I got the gaps up the inner - I got the lucky gaps and I don't think that's a coincidence, to be honest. He [Michael] is looking down on me since the day he left us. It feels wrong to say it, but I just have so much confidence now knowing that he is looking down on me. To do this for him, I think he'd be proud. It’s a dream come true to win this race.”

Mullins seemed to take major satisfaction from the victory on a week he so often makes a major impression at. There was an added layer of poignancy too, with his partner, Maxine O’Sullivan, the first cousin of Alan and Michael, as well as being a leading amateur rider in her own right.

“It’s unbelievable, magic,” said Mullins. “It all came together great. I was keen to claim the 7lb off him and didn’t need to go any further than Alan for a top 7lb claimer at the moment.

“Maxine makes him come up to us and gets a few lots out of him! I asked him which he’d like to ride, he said Filey even though I think I might have been steering him towards Vischio that week, and he got it right.

“This place throws up the fairytale stories. It’s just a magic day.”