WILLIE MULLINS will aim for the biggest payday of his career – worth £2.8MILLION – with Breeders’ Cup hero Ethical Diamond.
The shock Turf winner could be aimed at the money-spinning Dubai Sheema Classic next, his assistant David Casey has said.
Ethical Diamond showed an astonishing turn of foot to burn down the outside of the Del Mar track and stun Flat heavyweights Rebel’s Romance and Arc de Triomphe runner-up Minnie Hauk last weekend.
Mullins couldn’t believe it afterwards, screaming ‘holy f***!’ following the 28-1 outsider’s £2m success.
And SunRacing’s Matt Chapman labelled it ‘the most extraordinary win of his already extraordinary, record-breaking career’.
Ethical Diamond’s days over jumps are firmly on hold as he looks set to travel the world as a genuine Grade 1 superstar on the level.
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And while a screw meant he couldn’t run in the Melbourne Cup – and never will be allowed to compete in the ‘race that stops a nation‘ – there are huge riches on offer in the Middle East next spring.
Among them is the 1m4f Longines Dubai Sheema Classic won this year by Japanese sensation Danon Decile.
He had the beating of subsequent Champion Stakes winner Calandagan, with Rebel’s Romance back in fourth.
The past winners of the Sheema reads like a who’s who of middle distance monsters, featuring the likes of Equinox, Mishriff and Jack Hobbs.
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And while nothing is set in stone, the money on offer is sure to tempt Closutton boss Mullins.
Danon Decile’s owners picked up £2.8m for winning earlier this year.
The horse won in a time of 2m27s – which equates to winnings of £19,000 per second.
Repeating that feat with the HOS Syndicate-owned Ethical Diamond would comfortably be the biggest of Mullins’ career – worth almost SIX Grand Nationals.
Speaking of Ethical Diamond’s future plans, Casey told Leopardstown Festival odds: “I’d imagine his hurdling career is on hold at the moment!
“A few people out in Australia (where Casey was for the Melbourne Cup) were congratulating us after the win in Del Mar.
“I said, ‘Yeah it was great, a good prep for a Novice Chase at Christmas.’ That was tongue in cheek of course.
“I think he’s entered in Hong Kong in December, but it might come a little bit soon for him.
“I don’t know whether Willie would want him to travel on again so soon.
“And then you’re looking at horses, races like Meydan next year, the Sheema Classic or something like that.
“I’d imagine he’d go back to America for Turf races over there, the Man O’ War Stakes and races like that.
“Meydan is in March which we don’t usually target horses for because it’s Cheltenham time and we are flat out organising that.
“So, all those options are up for him now.”
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