Willie Mullins Targets Melbourne and Breeders’ Cup Turf
Elle
Nov 7th 2025
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Willie Mullins who has been considered the master of jump racing for a very long time, has once again done something incredible and very different after a shock triumph at the 2025 Breeders’ Cup turf in Del Mar. His horse, Ethical Diamond, was brilliant in the Turf, bringing the Irish trainer a $2 million first prize and marking his debut in one of the most prestigious events of the Flat racing world.
For a man accustomed to dominating Cheltenham and Aintree, success in America’s top-level Flat contest marked new territory. Mullins’s achievement was made even more striking by the fact that this was his first-ever Breeders’ Cup turf runner. Ethical Diamond’s turn to top the chart was a combination of his strength to bounce back and perfect timing, as the gelding speedily overtook the duo of the Group One Minnie Hauk and Rebel’s Romance with an exhibition that hardly any people anticipated.
The performance, reminiscent of his bold Ebor Handicap win earlier in the year, stunned spectators and bookmakers alike. Those expecting another familiar European name to triumph were instead treated to a rare sight, a National Hunt legend conquering the American turf scene.
After the race, Mullins could scarcely contain his emotion. “Wow,” he exclaimed repeatedly before collecting his thoughts for the press. “It’s just beyond belief. This horse has led us down a road that was not in our plan, but I guess it is those kind of journeys that turn out to be the finest ones.”
The win was not part of a long-laid strategy. In fact, the path to Del Mar was shaped by circumstance. Ethical Diamond had been on course for the Melbourne Cup, but veterinary restrictions prevented his participation. Horses with a history of certain leg procedures, such as the screw inserted into one of Ethical Diamond’s legs during a past injury recovery, are automatically ruled out of the Australian showpiece.
“It was only a very last-minute plan after winning the Ebor,” Mullins explained. “When we knew we couldn’t get down to Australia with him, David Casey [his assistant] said, ‘Let’s go for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.’ He was right, you can’t win these races if you’re not in them.”
The decision proved inspired. Ethical Diamond, ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, showed both stamina and class across Del Mar’s mile-and-a-half trip. The pair stayed patient in midfield before surging through the field in the stretch, leaving the favourites trailing.
McMonagle, who has risen steadily through the ranks in Ireland, was full of praise for the horse and his trainer. “He gave me everything when I asked,” he said. “Willie had him in perfect shape, and he felt incredible turning for home. To win for the team on this stage means everything.”
The victory drew comparisons with Mullins’s previous cross-code triumphs. Few trainers have managed to switch so effectively between jump racing and Flat racing. His stable has produced Cheltenham champions and Grand National heroes, but conquering America adds a fresh dimension to his extraordinary résumé.
The triumph also reignites talk of a potential global campaign for Ethical Diamond. With his Breeders’ Cup turf hopes halted by regulation rather than ability, Mullins now has his sights set on other prestigious staying contests. Early indications suggest he may target major Flat events in Europe and the Middle East next season.
Mullins’s growing interest in elite Flat racing has been evident in recent years. He has blended established jump horses with younger recruits bred for speed and stamina, crafting a yard capable of competing on multiple fronts. That approach has now yielded one of the richest wins of his career.
Even though Del Mar has the shine, Mullins is still down to earth. “Let’s see how he recovers from it,” he stated. “He is a strong horse, and we will definitely plan with care. “He’s not the sort you rush.”
Back home, the win was greeted with admiration across Ireland’s racing community. Mullins , who has been at the top of the game in the jump racing division for several times, is still not done as he keeps on breaking the limits of what a two-breed farm can achieve. The win of Ethical Diamond is a potential signal to the rest of the world that he is the one to set the example, showing that a combination of sheer ability and bravery can take one to places that are way beyond what is typical for racing Breeders’ Cup turf .
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Willie Mullins has not only broken new ground but also signaled his intent to remain a force in both codes. With Ethical Diamond now established among the sport’s elite stayers, attention turns to where the pair will strike next, and whether the Melbourne Cup dream, once lost, might one day be replaced with another global conquest.
