Latest news with #EthicalDiamond
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mullins dreaming of Melbourne Cup again after Royal Ascot win
By James Toney at Royal Ascot Willie Mullins is a man with a plan and when he sets his sights on a target, he normally hits the bullseye. Mullins has made no secret of his ambition to win the Melbourne Cup, the world's richest handicap, and thinks he's got a live chance for Flemington this year. He thought one-time Triumph Hurdle winner Vauban was 'the one' for 'The Cup' but he came home a distant 14th when favourite two years ago and only improved that position by three last November. Absurde got Mullins closer with a top five finish last year, just a couple of lengths behind winner Knight's House and his owners will be hoping Royal Ascot winner Ethical Diamond can do even better. York's Lonsdale Cup now appears the likely target in August with Mullins hoping all road will then lead back Down Under. "We will give him a little break and look at York – that is normally where we go from here," he said. "The Ebor would look possible too but we would love to go to Melbourne. If we can get him qualified, that would be wonderful, I think he'd really suit that race. "It's probably the biggest flat race in the world that I can win with the type of horses we buy and that's why it's a race that we'd really love to win. We've keep coming back and trying to win it but you've got to have the right horses, so let's see." It's over two decades since Mullins's first crack at the 'race that stops a nation', with a second, third and fourth on his resume, including Max Dynamite's lucky runner-up position ten years ago. And he's quick to recount the story of his first trip to the iconic race 32 years ago, cheering Dermot Weld's Vintage Crop - the first overseas winner - to a victory and changed 'The Cup' forever. Mullins took his career tally at Royal Ascot to 11 on Friday and has the odds-on favourite in the final race, the marathon Queen Alexandra Stakes. Sober is a quality French-bred stayer last seen winning a novice hurdle in Killarney, while fellow Irish jumps trainer Gordon Elliott could provide the biggest challenge with the unpredictable Samui, who finished at the back of field in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Aidan O'Brien is locked in a battle for his 13th Royal Ascot top trainer title heading into the last day of the meeting. Ballydoyle's five wins leaves them deadlocked with John and Thady Gosden but ahead on the standings because they've had one more third position. However, Ryan Moore should comfortably wrap up his 12th top jockey prize, Oisin Murphy needing to ride a last day three-timer, while hoping Moore falters. O'Brien and Moore arrived here needing one more Group One win to bring up their 150 as a partnership but landing Ascot's biggest prizes is no easy task. Storm Boy is their only entry in the Saturday showpiece Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and while there are plenty ahead of him in the market, his trainer remains cautiously optimistic. "He finished ninth at the Curragh last time but we knew he would need that run and he's come forward since then," he said. "He's fast and has shown us plenty of speed at home. We hope you will see a different horse to the one you saw at the Curragh. However, perhaps the best O'Brien chance of the day belongs to Donnacha, with Comanche Brave a warm favourite in the Jersey Stakes, where brother Joseph also fires the highly-rated Saracen. "The trip and ground will certainly suit him," said Donnacha O'Brien. "He's put together two good runs this season and we're hopeful he'll run a big race." Five different Irish trainers have been in the winners' enclosure this week and Festival winning trainer John McConnell fires a long shot in the Wokingham Stakes, with 2022 Jersey Stakes winner Noble Truth. The Kingman-colt has been lightly-raced since and has gained a wild child reputation, with Luke Morris the brave man in today's saddle. A high draw on the straight track at Ascot has been favoured this week and Noble Truth will leave from gate 31 at a huge price.
The Australian
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Australian
2025 Melbourne Cup: Ethical Diamond wins at Royal Ascot
Irish master trainer Willie Mullins has unveiled a potential Melbourne Cup candidate in Royal Ascot winner Ethical Diamond. Ethical Diamond, raced by owners of stablemate Absurde, who ran seventh and fifth respectively in the Cup the past two years, won the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (2400m) by two lengths under champion jockey Ryan Moore. 'We will give him a little break and look at York – that is normally where we go from here,' Mullins said. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'The Ebor would look possible. We would love to go to Melbourne. 'If we can get him qualified, that would be wonderful. 'We might see if we can get him Group-placed. I think he would suit the race (Melbourne Cup).' • 'Zachariah the Electrifier': Jockey targets darts glory Mullins has wanted to win the Cup since he fell in love with the race that stops a nation in 1993 as a spectator when Irish champion Vintage Crop, trained by Dermot Weld, triumphed at a Flemington. Mullins has placed in the Cup twice previously with Max Dynamite. Mullins travelled Vauban, now trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Absurde to Melbourne the past two years without luck. The Ebor Handicap at York offers the winner a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup. • Moody, Purton, Tapp join turf legends in Hall Of Fame Vauban won a 2800m handicap at Royal Ascot in 2023 and then qualified for the Cup with a Group 3 victory in Ireland. Ethical Diamond must at the very least now place in a Group race at 2400m and beyond to be eligible (pass ballot clause) for Cup consideration. An Ebor win would assure the emerging stayer a start in the Cup but also attract a weight penalty. Vauban carried 55kg in 2023 Melbourne Cup, finished 14th of 23, and melted in hot conditions. Royal Ascot has coincidently been held under Australian-like conditions this year, with a good to firm-rated track and temperatures nudging 30C. Ethical Diamond revelled on the fast ground. 'There is a big win over hurdles in Ethical Diamond too but, at the moment, we will concentrate on Flat,' Mullins said. 'To me, I wouldn't think he loves this type of (fast) ground, but all the flat people tell me horses by Awtaad often like it.' Gilbert Gardiner Sports reporter Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. @gilbertgardiner Gilbert Gardiner
Daily Telegraph
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
2025 Melbourne Cup: Ethical Diamond wins at Royal Ascot
Don't miss out on the headlines from Melbourne Cup. Followed categories will be added to My News. Irish master trainer Willie Mullins has unveiled a potential Melbourne Cup candidate in Royal Ascot winner Ethical Diamond. Ethical Diamond, raced by owners of stablemate Absurde, who ran seventh and fifth respectively in the Cup the past two years, won the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (2400m) by two lengths under champion jockey Ryan Moore. 'We will give him a little break and look at York – that is normally where we go from here,' Mullins said. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'The Ebor would look possible. We would love to go to Melbourne. 'If we can get him qualified, that would be wonderful. 'We might see if we can get him Group-placed. I think he would suit the race (Melbourne Cup).' • 'Zachariah the Electrifier': Jockey targets darts glory Mullins has wanted to win the Cup since he fell in love with the race that stops a nation in 1993 as a spectator when Irish champion Vintage Crop, trained by Dermot Weld, triumphed at a Flemington. Mullins has placed in the Cup twice previously with Max Dynamite. Mullins travelled Vauban, now trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Absurde to Melbourne the past two years without luck. The Ebor Handicap at York offers the winner a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup. • Moody, Purton, Tapp join turf legends in Hall Of Fame Vauban won a 2800m handicap at Royal Ascot in 2023 and then qualified for the Cup with a Group 3 victory in Ireland. Ethical Diamond must at the very least now place in a Group race at 2400m and beyond to be eligible (pass ballot clause) for Cup consideration. An Ebor win would assure the emerging stayer a start in the Cup but also attract a weight penalty. Vauban carried 55kg in 2023 Melbourne Cup, finished 14th of 23, and melted in hot conditions. Royal Ascot has coincidently been held under Australian-like conditions this year, with a good to firm-rated track and temperatures nudging 30C. Ethical Diamond revelled on the fast ground. 'There is a big win over hurdles in Ethical Diamond too but, at the moment, we will concentrate on Flat,' Mullins said. 'To me, I wouldn't think he loves this type of (fast) ground, but all the flat people tell me horses by Awtaad often like it.' Originally published as 'We would love to go': 2025 Melbourne Cup contender Ethical Diamond wins for trainer Willie Mullins at Royal Ascot
France 24
a day ago
- Sport
- France 24
Royal Ascot is 'heaven on earth' for shock winner Cercene's trainer
Cercene was at 33/1 the longest price winner ever in the Coronation Stakes, she showed real grit under Gary Carroll to battle back to overcome French favourite Zarigana. For Carroll and trainer Joe Murphy, who had only had one previous runner at the meeting, it was easily their most prestigious winner and comes on arguably the biggest stage. "This is 50 years of work, that's what it is, of love and care, and all for the owners we have, all our people, it's just a whole group of people together," said Murphy, who has been training since 1977. "This is heaven on Earth." For Carroll it was his third Royal Ascot winner but first ever Group One winner anywhere and due reward for flying back after riding in Ireland on Thursday. "Hugely good horses are very hard to come by and sometimes only one comes along in a lifetime and I guess mine has," he said. Harry Eustace has got a real taste now for Group One races at Royal Ascot, having broken his duck on Tuesday he added a second in the Commonwealth Cup with Time for Sandals, a shock 25/1 winner. "I don't know it has not landed yet," said Eustace of his astonishing week. "You have to be very careful with Ascot if you get your hopes up it can bite you back." For his father James, who Harry took over from, it was "magic". "It is so wonderful," said Eustace senior, who also enjoyed success at Royal Ascot. "We tried to get Harry to go to university, we succeeded initially and he went to Edinburgh. "He had two good years and a lot of fun before he dropped out and then took off for Australia and the racing bug bit." - 'Fantastic days' For jockey Richard Kingscote it was a seventh Royal Ascot winner, his first Group One, and ended a losing run of 67 rides at the meeting. "This means an awful lot," said Kingscote. "I have had some nice horses but this will do the world of good. "I am delighted to ride a good winner for Harry, he is a gentleman, it is a happy yard." The race had looked set up to end trainer Charlie Appleby's three year losing run at the meeting but once again it ended in disappointment -- hot favourite Shadow of Light never featured. Willie Mullins normally associated with the Cheltenham Festival winners enclosure had quite a day. The 68-year-old Irish training legend began the day in the Royal Procession, his wife Jackie presented a trophy, and then he welcomed home his 11th Royal Ascot winner. Ryan Moore recorded his 91st Royal Ascot winner as he guided Ethical Diamond home to an impressive victory in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, just months after he finished fourth in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. "It is wonderful," said Mullins. "These are fantastic days. "Jackie said let us just enjoy it and to have a winner well it is the cherry on top of the cake is it not?" Venetian Sun won the first the Group Three Albany Stakes ending O'Brien's hopes of a sweep of the two-year-old races this week. Trainer Karl Burke had described the week so far as "savage" but he had a beaming smile on his face as he walked back to the winner's enclosure. "A very special filly never had a two-year-old filly like her. She has been kicking group horses out of the way at home," said Burke, who previously won the Albany in 2020 with Dandalla. Venetian Sun, co-owned by Tony Bloom owner of Premier League side Brighton, was a second Royal Ascot winner for jockey Clifford Lee. "It is very hard to get a winner here, you think you come here with a real chance and find you fall short," he said.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Royal Ascot wrap: Ethical Diamond sparkles for Willie Mullins in Duke of Edinburgh Stakes
Ethical Diamond made it a momentous day at Royal Ascot for Willie Mullins when powering down the outside to win the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in the hands of Ryan Moore. Mullins and his wife Jackie had taken part in the royal procession before racing and his dual-purpose performer had no trouble in justifying 3-1 favouritism. Fourth last year, he was 2lb higher having also finished fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham - but the result barely looked in doubt and he came home two lengths clear of Mutaawid and Naqeeb Harry Eustace's fine Royal Ascot continued when Time For Sandals blazed her way to Commonwealth Cup glory. The Newmarket handler struck for the very first time in Group One company with Docklands in the Queen Anne Stakes and wasted little time doubling that tally with a filly who was registering just her second career victory - and first since her debut last year. Sent off at 25-1 in the hands of Richard Kingscote, she cruised to the front on the far side with a furlong to run and showed great resolve to edge out Arizona Blaze by a neck with the supplemented Rayevka half a length further back in third. Venetian Sun backed up Karl Burke's confidence in her ability with a dominant display in the Albany Stakes. Ante-post favourite in the build up to the race following an impressive winning debut at Carlisle, she was sent off at 7-1 in the end with Burke having drawn a blank with several other fancied juvenile runners this week. She also had to overcome what looked a disadvantageous draw in stall one under Clifford Lee, yet despite having no cover, she was in front with a furlong to run and pulled a length and a half clear of Awaken and Balantina.
