HORSES who finished seventh in the Scottish Champion Handicap Hurdle six months ago shouldn’t typically be soaring down the Del Mar straight to win the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf.

They shouldn’t be capable of raising the roof in Grade 1 company when they haven’t ever raced beyond handicap company on the flat before. And surely not when we’re talking about one of the highest-quality renewals for some time of this international highlight; a line-up headed by this year’s Arc runner-up and a dual Breeders’ Cup Turf hero.

How about going and breaking the Del Mar track record for good measure? Not in a million years, surely.

Despite any amount of logical thinking, that is exactly where we are as the sun sets over the coast of California, and on the 2025 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The latest chapter in Irish racing’s era of Willie Mullins madness will go down as one of the most impressive in his career. It was an act of pure genius to strike gold on the west coast with an exceptionally-primed Ethical Diamond. And, boy, was the hurdler-turned-Grade 1-winner good here.

Even with all the phenomenal days he’s had at Cheltenham, Aintree, Leopardstown, Royal Ascot and beyond, it’s difficult to remember many times in the last decade that Mullins has walked back into a winner’s enclosure with such pure glee. It was obvious from the adrenaline coursing around his body that he relished each and every second of this. Part of that joy, he admitted, was the surprise nature of the victory at 28/1.

It was remarked in the lead-up at Del Mar this week that the vast majority of local American punters and racing journalists knew nothing about the exploits of W.P. Mullins. Well, they got quite the crash course in his capabilities on this particular Saturday afternoon. Spare a thought for the trainers of Ireland facing such a colossus each day.

Dylan delivers

As far as the race went, everything came together exquisitely from off the pace, and Ireland’s new champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle played a blinder for his part. Two men, at different ends of the age and experience spectrums, conquering their first Breeders’ Cup wins.

In the middle of it all, the lucky few from the HOS Syndicate who made the trip to just outside San Diego were pinching themselves. The magnitude of it all hadn’t hit Michael and Andrew Heffernan by the time the press conference came around - on route to which, Mullins downed a glass of rich bourbon that was handed to him in the moment.

“There wasn't pressure today and that made it feel different,” beamed Ireland’s all-conquering trainer, still trying to catch his breath beside an iPhone that never stopped pinging and buzzing.

“We all knew coming out we couldn't finish in the first three. We were hoping to finish in the first six. Then when we saw the draw [in stall 14] and we said ‘wow, it will be trouble to get in the first six.’

“My only pressure was that we wouldn't be tailed off and make a holy show of ourselves. Certainly after the first furlong or two, I said ‘Jesus, is this going to happen?’ But then I could see Dylan… He wasn't panicking where he was, even though he was a bit off the field. I love it when jockeys don't panic. He just rides with such confidence. He's got that big C. He passed one, he passed two, and I said ‘he still hasn't budged on this horse’. Then I thought he's come four wide or five wide around the bend.

“I thought ‘oh, God, is he going to use up his petrol just coming wide?’ But he told me after the race he had so much petrol, he'd better go. When he got into the straight, I could see the minute they straightened up, the speed he was going compared to the front runners, and I thought ‘this is on’. Next thing, when he hit the front… Like, I very rarely celebrate before the line, but I think I was celebrating, which is unlike me. But, it's pretty unlike me to have a winner in the Breeders' Cup.”

When do we ever tend to hear that type of raw enthusiasm for a man who has done it all? It tells you how big a deal this really was.

It was said that after Ethical Diamond had won the Ebor, a door to the Melbourne Cup had been closed due to him having a screw in his leg that disqualified him from passing the veterinary checks. Another one opened spectacularly, though, in the shape of this Stateside adventure. Mullins and the HOS crew now have the small matter of a trip to Flemington on the cards with Absurde in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. It could be a week of all weeks to cap a year of all years.

Casey credit

“With his medical history, they wouldn't allow him into Melbourne. That's the real reason we had to find a different plan. My assistant trainer David Casey came up with this Breeders’ Cup plan,” said Mullins.

“I don't know whether you guys are aware how the HOS Syndicate came about," he added.

"These guys' [Michael and Andrew] grandparents, Andrew and Margaret Heffernan, rang me up one day and said ‘Willie, I want you to get me a horse or two for my grandchildren. I only meet them at funerals and weddings, and none of the little feckers are getting married anymore, and I don't want to meet them at my funeral.’ She said she wanted an excuse to go to big meetings, to bring all her grandchildren along.

“A big thank you to Andrew and Margaret from all of us. It's special to have grandparents like that.”

Browne McMonagle had left the building within minutes of weighing in, as he rushed to catch a flight back to the Curragh, where he’ll be handed his champion jockey trophy on Sunday. In a scene of chaotic joy, he was the coolest man in the winner’s circle.

“When you ride for Willie Mullins, you've always got a chance,” he said, after notching just his second winner for the Closutton maestro from six rides. His only other victory for Mullins came as part of a record-equalling five-timer for the rider at Tramore earlier this season aboard Tounsivator.

“Willie is 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. It's great to top off a year that we've had. It is unbelievable, so I must say thanks to everyone who deserves it.”

Rebel’s Romance, finishing a length and a quarter behind the winner in second, went down on his sword for Charlie Appleby and William Buick as he chased an unprecedented third straight win in the race. Stablemate El Cordobes fended off Amiloc to ensure a European 1-2-3-4.

Minnie Hauk probably got involved earlier than ideal and had a wide enough trip before fading to sixth.

“They just went very fast and she just got trapped out a little bit. I think she'll stay [in training] next year,” said Aidan O’Brien.

The 6/4 favourite’s jockey Christophe Soumillion added: “She never really settled, and when I asked her to take some blows, she never took it. So I think she just over-raced today. The tempo was on. For sure with that start, I was hoping not staying three deep the whole way… I don't know if you could say this race today was too much, but she wasn't like she was last time at Longchamp.

“She was a little bit more nervous today and the race didn't suit us. When Silawi starts to get tired before the last corner, it makes myself and Mickael [Barzalona on 11th-placed Goliath] have to come on the bridle a little bit early. But she never responded like she used to do. I think she over raced, as the main problem.”

If they weren’t seasoned professionals with bundles of big-race experience, you’d fear the winning connections of Ethical Diamond might risk overracing in their own celebrations ahead of a massive Melbourne Cup trip. You could easily forgive them if they did. Their flight took off for Australia out of LAX airport on Saturday night, but Mullins and all involved probably could have floated there on their own cloud of elation.

Days like these do not come around too often. They need to be savoured. 'Willie's in the bumper' - the Del Mar edition - did not disappoint.