Source: The Guardian Sport
Dylan Browne McMonagle poses for photos after winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf race aboard Ethical Diamond with trainer Willie Mullins, far left.Photograph: Orlando Ramirez/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenDylan Browne McMonagle poses for photos after winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf race aboard Ethical Diamond with trainer Willie Mullins, far left.Photograph: Orlando Ramirez/Getty ImagesTalking HorsesBreeders’ CupWillie Mullins eyes Melbourne and Breeders’ Cup double after shock triumphThe dominant jumps racing trainer has another huge Flat prize in sight after Ethical Diamond’s sparkling successGreg Woodat Del MarMon 3 Nov 2025 03.00 ESTLast modified on Mon 3 Nov 2025 03.55 ESTShareIf five wins from the seven turf events, one short of the record, felt like a standard return for European runners at the 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, then the identity of the biggest winner of all was a huge, and very refreshing, surprise.Willie Mullins blew into Del Mar with Ethical Diamond, his first ever runner at the meeting, andleft with the $2m first prize in the Turf, nearly five times as much as he banked when Nick Rockett landed the Grand National in April. And the style of his win was equally memorable. Punters who backed the proven Group One form of Minnie Hauk and Rebel’s Romance might beg to differ, but it gladdened the heart to see anEbor Handicap winnerleave the pair of them standing with a stretch run for the ages.Gezora wins Breeders’ Cup 2025 after Ethical Diamond’s triumph for Willie MullinsRead moreMullins was, momentarily at least, lost for words after Ethical Diamond and Dylan Browne McMonagle powered across the line. “Wow,” he said. “Wow, wow, wow, wow.” But he recovered his composure in time for the post-race press conference, where Mullins explained that had it not been for the strict veterinary rules attached to runners in theMelbourne Cup, Ethical Diamond would not have been within a thousand miles of southern California.View image in fullscreenEthical Diamond wins the Breeders’ Cup Turf Del Mar.Photograph: Steven Cargill/racingfotos.com/Shutterstock“It was only a very last-minute plan after winning the Ebor,” Mullins said, “when we knew we couldn’t get down to Australia with him, and we thought, let’s have a go at this race. David Casey, my assistant, came up with the plan. He said: ‘Look, the mile-and-a-half there, he’s good enough to run in and take a shot.’ You can’t win these races unless you’re in them. That’s always been my policy, have a go.”Ethical Diamond had a screw inserted into one of his legs earlier in his career to aid his recovery from an injury, which is far from uncommon. It is enough tostop him running in a Melbourne Cup, however, regardless of the fact that he has run multiple times since, on the Flat and over hurdles, and won demanding staying events such as the Ebor.View image in fullscreenHorses and jockeys make their way from the paddock to the track at Del Mar on Breeders’ Cup weekend.Photograph: Gregory Bull/APT…
Published: 2025-11-03T08:00:27
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