Mullins considering Stayers' Hurdle route for versatile Great White Shark

Great White Shark's commanding Cesarewitch victory has opened a lot more doors for her, according to Willie Mullins, who is contemplating going down the Stayers' Hurdle route with the six-year-old mare.

Ireland's champion jumps trainer created history by winning the prestigious staying prize for the third time in a row after the victories of Low Sun (2018) and Stratum (2019), and the Irish handicapper has raised Great White Shark 10lb to a career-high mark of 96 after she tore her 33 rivals apart at Newmarket on Saturday.

Watch Great White Shark's Cesarewitch victory at Newmarket

Mullins might try to find another suitable opportunity on the Flat for Great White Shark in the coming weeks, but said the improvement she showed on Saturday could see her step up in class over hurdles this winter.

Mullins said: "I just received a WhatsApp message this morning [Monday] from someone telling me I was the first trainer to win that race three times in a row. I had no idea.

"I know I only had one runner in the race, but that's just the way it worked out. We had a few entries, but wanted to split them up between Newmarket and the Curragh.

"I knew Great White Shark was ready to run a very big race because of the way she worked during the week. David [Mullins] rode Royal Illusion in the piece of work and he was delighted with her, but Great White Shark worked better.

Willie Mullins: 'A lot more doors have been opened for her now'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"The great thing about Saturday was that Malcolm Denmark was able to be there to see it. If the race was in Ireland he wouldn't have been able to go."

On future plans for Great White Shark, the trainer added: "She is improving all the time and she was very good on Saturday. I will have a look and see what there is left for her on the Flat, but a lot more doors have been opened for her now.

"We'll certainly have a look at the Stayers' Hurdle route and give it some consideration. She is rated 145 over hurdles, so she will have to improve again. She ran a cracker in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham in March with Donie McInerney."

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