The exceptionally versatile Ethical Diamond gears up for yet another international raid as he looks to add the Dubai Sheema Classic to his already impressive CV. The son of Awtaad caught the eye when fourth in the 2025 County Hurdle. Since then, he’s transformed himself into an incredibly valuable pot-hunter on the flat.
He took the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot with ease, prior to a comfortable success in the Ebor. Remarkably, he then gave Willie Mullins a first Breeders Cup success. Having beat the likes of Rebel’s Romance and Minnie Hauk there, it was clear to see his ability on the flat has transcended that over obstacles.
The progressive gelding now looks to land a quartet of flat victories, as he lines up at Meydan on Saturday. Speaking to Racing TV, his trainer Willie Mullins said: “He’s travelled over very well. It’s still a busy time over here and I’ve kept the same team that travelled with him last time. Sean Cleary-Farrell has gone over, and everyone seems very happy with how he’s settled in. I don’t think he’ll do a lot this week. We’ve hopefully sent him over there as fit as a flea.
“If he can finish in the first three I think we’ll be happy” – Willie Mullins
The Closutton maestro is famed for his incredible achievements in National Hunt racing, but he;’s no stranger to success on the level. He trained Grade 1 Hurdle winner Wicklow Brave to win the 2016 Irish St Leger. Aside from that, he landed back-to-back renewals of the Queen Elizabeth Cup with True Self at Flemington. The Oscar gelding, who was a moderate hurdler, also won the valuable Neom Cup at Riyadh in 2021.
Mullins perhaps hasn’t quite had a flat horse of this calibre, and he can certainly pose a threat to Calandagan. “It’s a tough race,” continued Mullins. “ I’ve seen he’s second favourite and hopefully he can run well. If he can finish in the first three I think we’ll be happy.
“We are always trying to buy dual-purpose horses. But I think after last year he’s gone from a dual-purpose horse to just a Flat horse. I suppose he surprised us all in America. Hopefully now he’ll be able to maintain that, to hold that sort of position.”
Ethical Diamond will take on five rivals, including 2025 Cartier Horse of the Year Calandagan. The Gleneagles gelding was beaten in this last season, but has been a relentless winning machine since.