After Ethical Diamond won the Ebor Handicap in August the obvious path was the Melbourne Cup but he did not meet strict veterinary requirements, so Irish trainer Willie Mullins bought a bell, and went to win the Group I Breeders Cup Turf with his seven time hurdler.
The Ebor is one of two “Golden Ticket” events in Europe which guarantees the winner a start in the Melbourne Cup however Ethical Diamond has a screw implanted in his leg following a small fracture which made him ineligible for the race under the veterinary regulations.
“It’s fair and their rules are there for a reason. At least we know we can’t go there before we leave,” was Mullins comment at the time.
Mullins and his owner also had Absurde heading for the Cup so Ethical Diamond was prepared for the Breeders Cup in California, with Mullins’s only change to procedure being buying a bell for his starting stalls at home.
“We bought a new bell for our starting stalls. I’ve had a few horses here before and they get a fright when the bell goes off.”
He also confessed pre-race that he didn’t think his horse was good enough to finish top three but "Plan A" was to get him settled behind a fast pace.
The fast pace certainly ensued from the outset with Ethical Diamond settling towards the rear and the leaders felt the strain, with Ethical Diamond charging strongly down the outside to beat the Godolphin pair of Rebel Romance (Dubawi) and El Cordobes (Frankel).
Race favourite Minnie Hauk endured a brutal run throughout yet found the lead into the straight, but it was all too much in the final furlong and she faltered to finish sixth although it would be tough to lose any admiration.
Ethical Diamond, a five-year-old gelding, is the third Group One winner for Awtaad, who stands at Shadwell’s Derrynstown Stud for $7,500 Euros.
He is the first winner for Pearl Diamond (Areion), a three-quarter sister to Precious Boy, the Champion 3YO Miler in Germany in 2008, from an otherwise quite unremarkable family.
For Mullins, a legend in jumping, it was his biggest flat win and indeed one of only two Group I flat wins in his career.
Indeed seven of Ethical Diamond’s runs have been over the jumps with a single win, somewhat overshadowed by his flat record of four wins from eight starts.
Mullins now turns his attention to Tuesday where Absurde is rated a $23 chance in the Melbourne Cup.
