At the 2025 Breeders’ Cup held at Del Mar, European runners once again showed their class, winning five out of the seven turf events — just one short of the event’s record. However, the standout story that captured the imagination of racing fans worldwide was an unexpected triumph by Willie Mullins, the dominant jumps racing trainer from Ireland, who secured his first-ever Breeders’ Cup victory with Ethical Diamond in the $2 million Turf race. This win was not only remarkable for the prize money, which was nearly five times the amount Mullins earned from Nick Rockett’s Grand National victory earlier in the year, but also for the manner in which Ethical Diamond dominated a field that included proven Group One horses like Minnie Hauk and Rebel’s Romance.
Ethical Diamond’s victory was a thrilling spectacle, especially in the thrilling final stretch run. The horse, ridden by jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, surged past his rivals with a display of stamina and power that left the crowd and racing pundits in awe. Mullins himself was visibly overwhelmed by the achievement, expressing his amazement with repeated exclamations of “Wow” immediately after the race. During the post-race press conference, Mullins revealed that Ethical Diamond’s participation at Del Mar was a last-minute decision. Originally, the plan was to aim for the Melbourne Cup in Australia, but due to strict veterinary regulations barring horses with certain medical histories, Ethical Diamond was unable to travel there.
The horse had previously undergone surgery to insert a screw into one of his legs, a fairly common procedure to help recovery from injury. However, this fact alone rendered him ineligible for the Melbourne Cup under Australian rules, which were tightened following several fatal injuries in recent years, including that of Anthony Van Dyck, the 2019 Derby winner who was fatally injured in the 2020 Melbourne Cup. Mullins lamented the situation, pointing out the irony of how a veterinary procedure designed to aid Ethical Diamond’s recovery ultimately prevented him from competing in one of the world’s most prestigious races. Instead, Mullins and his team quickly recalibrated their plans, prompted by his assistant David Casey’s suggestion to enter Ethical Diamond in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, a race that perfectly suited the horse’s stamina over a mile and a half.
Despite the last-minute nature of the plan, the gamble paid off handsomely. Ethical Diamond’s win not only brought glory to Mullins, a figure primarily celebrated for his success in jumps racing, but also shone a spotlight on his versatility as a trainer capable of transitioning his talents to the highest levels of Flat racing. Mullins’ policy of “having a go” in big races, regardless of conventional wisdom, was vindicated spectacularly on the Californian turf.
Following the race, Mullins promptly flew to Australia to support Absurde, another horse in his stable carrying the same colors as Ethical Diamond, who was set to run in the Melbourne Cup the very next day. Absurde was considered a competitive contender with odds around 18-1 and a favorable stall draw, suggesting that Mullins could yet achieve an extraordinary and unprecedented double victory spanning two continents within days — a feat that would further cement his growing reputation in Flat racing circles.
Aside from Mullins’ triumph, the 2025 Breeders’ Cup also marked a historic moment for Japan’s racing industry. Forever Young, a four-year-old colt, became the first-ever Japanese-trained winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. This victory was particularly satisfying given Forever Young’s near miss in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, where he was pressed hard down the stretch and finished less than a quarter-length behind the winner. By reversing the form from last year’s Classic — where Forever Young had finished third behind Sierra Leone and Fierceness — the Japanese colt demonstrated his class and resilience, much to the delight of racing fans around the world.
The presence of such diverse winners like Ethical Diamond and Forever Young, both breaking from traditional powerhouses and expectations, added an exciting and unpredictable element to the meeting. Meanwhile, some other storylines received less attention than expected. For example, Frankie Dettori, one of the sport’s most celebrated jockeys, was marking his farewell at Del Mar. Unfortunately for Dettori, his rides were largely unremarkable, with the notable exception of Khaadem, who managed a respectable third place in the Turf Sprint. This muted performance meant Dettori’s farewell