By Alan Carasso
There have been some seriously unpredictable results in the 42-year history of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Think Lashkari at 53-1 in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Mile in 1984. How about Arcangues at 133-1 in the '93 Classic up at Santa Anita? Spain at 55-1 at Churchill in 2000, Bar of Gold in the 2017 Filly & Mare Sprint right here at Del Mar, what of Order of Australia (Ire) at almost 70-1 at Keeneland in 2020.
You get the picture.
A little more than two months ago, Ethical Diamond (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) was defeating 21 other stayers in the Ebor Handicap at York. Not long before that, he was competing in hurdling events at Punchestown–he broke his hurdling maiden in the heavy that Feb. 3 afternoon–and at the Cheltenham Festival and at and at Ayr, where he was less successful.
On Saturday afternoon on a stage as big and bright as the Breeders' Cup, the 5-year-old–a first Breeders' Cup runner for the legendary Willie Mullins and at Del Mar only because a commonly owned runner goes around in Tuesday's G1 Melbourne Cup–jumped out of the ground in upper stretch and raced away from two-time Turf hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and also-rans including the irrepressible 3-year-old filly Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar. All in a package that returned–wait for it–27-1 for a result as shocking–or more shocking–than those mentioned up above.
It kind of had to be seen to be believed and even then, it's still difficult to wrap one's brain around, as even his trainer thought a slice of minor prizemoney might be the ceiling.
With newly crowned Irish champion rider Dylan Browne McMonagle at the controls from the widest gate in 14 and crunched down from 50-1 in the final stages of the wagering, Ethical Diamond was dropped straight out the back of the field to race ahead of only Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire})–making his fourth straight appearance in the turf–as GI Canadian International hero Silawi (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) led them along at a strong tempo.
Last but one under the line for the first time, Ethical Diamond was patiently handled near the tail as Goliath, trapped three deep without the benefit of cover down the lane for the first time, rolled up to prompt the pace with Rebel's Romance box-seating the race, not always appearing entirely comfortable doing so.
Minnie Hauk, three wide the trip and racing without cover, began to advance and loomed a threat rounding the last of the three turns, but Ethical Diamond was being ridden mostly cold by McMonagle, awaiting his cue.
The Arc runner-up wrested command outside in upper stretch and was soon confronted by the staying-on Rebel's Romance, but Ethical Diamond split GIII Nashville Derby hero Wimbledon Hawkeye (Ire) (Kameko) and Hill Road (Quality Road) nearing the lane, was steered out six or seven wide under a full head of steam and rolled home to post an improbable upset. Rebel's Romance was second ahead of his stable companion El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in third.
“We decided to get back (in the field) and get him to relax, waiting for a bit of luck,” the winning rider commented. “Thankfully, halfways, the gallop was strong and it give me a good chance to finish, but once I was able to angle out off the turn, I was just pushing the button, and the way he went and he bolted up the lines.
“Always, you've always got a chance,” McMonagle said when asked about riding for the leading jumps trainer. “One hundred percent. He's a different class: jumps, flat, anywhere around the world. He turns up every time and he had the horse in good order. A massive thanks to the team, and well done the connections as well.”
Of the beaten favorite, Christophe Soumillon said: “I don't know if you could say this race today was too much, but she wasn't like she was last time in Longchamp. She was a little bit more nervous today and the race didn't suit us. When Silawi start(ed) to get tired before the last corner, it made myself and Mickael have to come on the bridle a little bit early. But she never responded like she used to do I think she over raced the main problem. She didn't have the nice blow like she could have sometimes.”
A deeper dive into Ethical Diamond's form shows ample ability on the flat, having finished outside the top three just twice in seven tries. A winner going two miles over hurdles at Punchestown in February, the dark bay carried Ryan Moore to a two-length victory as the 3-1 favorite in the 18-runner Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Hcp.) at Royal Ascot June 20 and he was last seen winning the valuable Ebor Handicap at York over a mile and six furlongs in August. That contest is typically a pointer to a race like the Melbourne Cup, but Mullins and the H O S Syndicate will be represented in the 'race that stops a nation' this coming Tuesday by Absurde (Fr) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).
Mullins has won the last two runnings of the famed Grand National at Aintree. It was also a first success at the Breeders' Cup for McMonagle.
Pedigree Notes:
Ethical Diamond is the 15th stakes winner, seventh group/graded winner and third top-level scorer for the 12-year-old Cape Cross (Ire) stallion Awtaad (Ire), the 2016 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero who has also supplied three-time Grade I winner Anisette (GB) and G1 Champion Stakes and G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Anmaat (Ire).
Ethical Diamond is the only starter to date for his dam, a half-sister to German highweight Precious Boy (Ger) (Big Shuffle), winner of the G2 Mehl-Muhlens Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) and runner-up in a G1 Bayrisches Zuchtrennen as well as GSP Prema (Ger) (Big Shuffle). Pearl Diamond foaled a full-brother to Ethical Diamond this past Feb. 7.
Turf magic in motion! ✨ Ethical Diamond storms home a #BC25 champion in the @Longines #BreedersCup Turf!
Congrats to the connections!
J: Dylan Browne McMonagle
T: William P. Mullins
O: H O S Syndicate
B: Mr W. J. Kennedy pic.twitter.com/T8pRSWn1HT— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 1, 2025
Saturday, Del Mar
LONGINES BREEDERS' CUP TURF-GI, $4,600,000, Del Mar, 11-1, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:25.45 (NCR), fm.
1–ETHICAL DIAMOND (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Awtaad (Ire)
1st Dam: Pearl Diamond (Ger), by Areion (Ger)
2nd Dam: Pretty Su (Ire), by Surumu (Ger)
3rd Dam: Pretty Procida, by Procida
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. (320,000gns 3yo '23 TATJUL). O-H O S Syndicate; B-Mr W. J. Kennedy (IRE); T-William P. Mullins; J-Dylan Browne McMonagle. $2,600,000. Lifetime Record: 15-5-1-1, $3,121,001. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rebel's Romance (Ire), 126, g, 7, Dubawi (Ire)–Minidress (GB), by Street Cry (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles Appleby. $850,000.
3–El Cordobes (Ire), 126, g, 4, Frankel (GB)–Bold Lass (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire).
(2,000,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-Charles Appleby. $450,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, HF. Odds: 27.70, 2.20, 17.80.
Also Ran: Amiloc (GB), Gold Phoenix (Ire), Minnie Hauk (Ire), Redistricting (GB), Rebel Red (GB), Tawny Port, Hill Road, Goliath (Ger), Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB), Silawi (Ire), Rashabar (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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