The Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) has a reputation for attracting top European talent, and this year was no exception. However, the identity of the victor came as a significant surprise. While top contenders like Minnie Hauk, the favorite and second-place finisher in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and the seasoned gelding Rebel’s Romance, a two-time winner of the race, were expected to battle it out, an unlikely horse emerged from the pack to claim the prestigious title.
An Unforeseen Champion Emerges
As the field turned for home at Del Mar on November 1st, it appeared the race would be decided between the heavily favored Minnie Hauk and the resilient Rebel’s Romance. However, defying all expectations, a horse previously competing in hurdle races this year, Ethical Diamond, stormed through the field to secure a decisive victory at odds of 27-1. This marked the sixth consecutive year a foreign-trained horse had won the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
“This is huge,” exclaimed trainer Willie Mullins, clearly elated. “To train a horse that is 25-1 and to win unexpectedly at a big festival like this, they’re the fun ones. You win the ones when you’re favored in, they’re not fun. They’re just relief. So, I’m really enjoying this. This is fun against the odds. What a race to win. It’s a huge improvement.”
Ethical Diamond, a 5-year-old gelding owned by H O S Syndicate, had recently secured victories on the flat, including a handicap race at York Racecourse and the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot. Despite these successes, Mullins, renowned as England’s premier steeplechase trainer and a multiple winner of major jump races, credited the horse’s previous experience in four hurdle races between December and April for settling him and preparing him for his first graded/group stakes win.
“He’s a very keen horse, and I often find jumping settles them down and teaches them not to over race,” Mullins explained. “But I think it settles them down and teaches them to relax in the race whereas a lot of flat racing horses, they’re taught to run over 6, 7 furlongs, a mile, and they’re out and gone. This fellow was losing his races doing that early on. He wanted to go all the time.”
Mullins elaborated on the strategy, noting, “Hurdles just make him think. Now he jumps out and he’s waiting for a hurdle to come out on the track. Halfway down, he goes, oh, okay, this isn’t a hurdle race. We have a hood on him as well. It’s all about settling him down. That’s the jockey’s job as well.”
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Race Dynamics and the Winning Run
With jockey Dylan McMonagle aboard, Ethical Diamond maintained a patient approach, settling in 13th place in the 14-horse field during the early stages. The pace was set by the outsider Silawi. Meanwhile, Minnie Hauk advanced steadily, moving from eighth to third after a mile and then surging to the lead at the top of the stretch.
Godolphin’s Rebel’s Romance, initially positioned third, encountered some traffic issues on the final turn before finding a clear path and challenging Minnie Hauk. The son of Dubawi collared the tiring filly, who dropped back to sixth. However, just as Rebel’s Romance took a brief lead, Ethical Diamond launched his formidable challenge.
Rallying five wide on the final turn, Ethical Diamond was still in 10th place at the quarter pole. In a stunning display of speed, he surged past Rebel’s Romance in the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths, setting a new track record of 2:25.45.
“My assistant trainer, David Casey, came up with this plan (after he was not allowed to compete in the Melbourne Cup). He said let’s go for the Breeders’ Cup. I thought why not? We’re not going to try to win it. We’ll come over here to finish fifth or sixth hopefully. When I saw the entries and our draw at 14, I said maybe sixth or seventh or eighth. Then when (Gstaad) won from 14 yesterday, that gave me a little bit more confidence that it can be done. If you can do it over a mile, mile and a half, it should be easy.”
The runner-up was Rebel’s Romance, three-quarters of a length ahead of stablemate El Cordobes, a Frankel gelding who had previously won the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T).
“Both ran well,” commented trainer Charlie Appleby, who trains both Godolphin runners. “I’m just glad Willie Mullins doesn’t train too many flat horses. A little bit of (traffic) for Rebel’s Romance, but in fairness I don’t think it made that much of a difference.”
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Breeding and Acquisition
This victory marked Ethical Diamond’s fifth win in 15 lifetime starts, bringing his total earnings to $3,121,001. He was bred by Mr. W. J. Kennedy, out of the Areion mare Pearl Diamond.
When Mullins and bloodstock agent Harold Kirk acquired Ethical Diamond for $434,517 at the 2023 Tattersalls July Sale, Mullins had promised the breeder that the horse would achieve black type. He certainly delivered on that promise, exceeding all expectations with this remarkable Breeders’ Cup victory.
“The breeder, who’s not here today, when he sold him to me … Well, I didn’t exactly rob him at the price that we paid, but he was worried could I get him some black type? Maybe placed on the list, and I promised him I would,” Mullins shared. “I think we overdelivered, but I’m sure he’d be delighted.”
