Ethical Diamond proves Mullins the master from Aintree to Del Mar
The 28-1 success of Ethical Diamond in the Turf for the legendary National Hunt trainer, Willie Mullins, was the highlight of a memorable and historic afternoon at Del Mar on Saturday which also saw Forever Young become the first ever Japanese-trained winner of the meeting’s showpiece event, the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Mullins has won everything there is to win in National Hunt racing, including the British trainers’ championship and the Grand National for the past two seasons, but Ethical Diamond’s victory in the $6m Turf was a match for anything he has achieved over jumps.
Dylan Browne McMonagle was deliberately slow to stride on the five-year-old, who can race too freely if he is close to the lead, and he made steady progress down the back stretch before unleashing an irrestible run five-wide around the home turn. Ethical Diamond swept past Minnie Hauk, the Oaks winner, and Rebel’s Romance, the Turf winner in two of the last three years, to win by a comfortable length-and-a-quarter.
“My assistant, David Casey, came up with the plan,” Mullins said. “I thought, ‘why not? We’re not going to try to win it. We’ll come over here to finish fifth or sixth, hopefully’.
Carlisle 12.32 Halpha Soleil 1.02 Lost Frequencies 1.32 Telepathique 2.02 Florida Dreams (nap) 2.37 Handstands 3.12 Inis Oirr (nb) 3.47 Medieval Gold
Huntingdon 12.48 Mermaids Cave 1.18 Bongo Man 1.48 Pic Roc 2.20 Scavengers Reign 2.55 Pure Carbon 3.30 Jack Hoola 4.05 Lelantos
“He can be a very difficult ride. Now that we have figured out the best tactic for him, it’s turned him inside out. The tactics are a key part to him, and Dylan being the guy he is, he’s very cool, and he executed it perfectly.
“I very rarely celebrate before the line, but I think I was celebrating, which is unlike me. But it’s pretty unlike me to have a winner in the Breeders’ Cup.”
Forever Young’s win in the Classic was also a significant moment, as Yoshito Yahagi’s four-year-old turned around the 1-2-3 from last year’s race with Sierra Leone, last year’s winner, and Fierceness.
Kempton 1.00 Mbappe 1.30 Alderman 2.00 Hard Endeavour 2.30 Sarab Star (nb) 3.00 Shader 3.30 Londoner (nap) 4.00 City Cyclone 4.30 Electric Bass
Plumpton 1.08 Jamada 1.38 Traveling Soldier 2.08 Daylatedollarshort 2.38 Arqoob 3.08 Ivane 3.38 Jorebel 4.08 Jackstell
Hereford 1.20 Knightsbridge 1.50 Dakota Star 2.20 Gris Majeur 2.50 Riviera Walk 3.20 Sun Art 3.50 Doctor Kildare 4.20 Gerard Mentor
Southwell 4.15 Dc Cogent 4.45 Thanos 5.15 Lolabella 5.45 Mooj 6.15 Your Love 6.45 Mae Amor 7.15 An Bradan Feasa 7.45 T Or Coffey 8.15 Raft Up
Wolverhampton 4.25 Akirra 5.00 Angel Numbers 5.30 Deported 6.00 Von Krolock 6.30 My Boy Jack 7.00 Mythical Composer 7.30 Al Rufaa 8.00 Sam’s Express 8.30 Lady Aiyana
Frankie Dettori drew a blank from the final three Grade One rides of his career, finishing sixth on another Japanese-trained runner, Argine, in his last ride on the card in the Mile.
The impressive winner of that race, Notable Speech, was a 12th Breeders’ Cup winner for Charlie Appleby and a 10th for his rider, William Buick, while Gezora’s success for Francis-Henri Graffard in the concluding Filly & Mare Turf was the fifth win for Europe at the meeting.
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So that’s five European-trained winners in the seven turf races at this year’s Breeders’ Cup, a very decent return, and a truly memorable moment as Willie Mullins took the Breeders’ Cup Turf with Ethical Diamond.
