Royal Ascot: Mullins learns his lessons as he looks towards Melbourne Cup

By James Toney at Royal Ascot

Willie Mullins has almost won it all but makes no secret of his desire to add one missing prize to his collection - the Melbourne Cup.

The race that stops a nation has a special place in the heart for Irish trainers since Dermot Weld's Vintage Crop won in 1993.

Since then there has three other Green Team successes, Weld again with Media Puzzle in 2002 and two wins for Joseph O'Brien, Rekindling and Twilight Payment in 2017 and 2020 respectively.

Mullins got closest nine years ago when he booked Frankie Dettori to ride Max Dynamite, who finished a very narrow second to Michelle Payne's history maker Prince of Penzance.

And his team for Flemington later this year is starting to look good.

Cheltenham Festival winner Vauban struggled in the race last year, having underlined his credentials with a win at Royal Ascot.

He was a creditable fourth in yesterday's Gold Cup, owner Rich Ricci entertaining representatives of the Victoria Racing Club and stressing November remains the ultimate ambition.

"He was right in the mix but his run just petered out down the straight," said Ricci. "Melbourne is still the plan and the one we really want to win. We'll aim for another race somewhere this summer and then we'll be ready."

Mullins insists he has learned the lesson of last year when Vauban failed to live up to hype, finishing 14th, seven places behind stable mate Absurde, another Cup hopeful has since won Cheltenham's County Handicap Hurdle.

“We’re going to do it right this year, hopefully with better luck. We learned a lot of lessons from last year and we'll be doing things differently," said Mullins.

New stable arrival Belloccio retained Mullins’ Copper Horse title on Tuesday and could complete a three-strong Flemington raiding party for Closutton.

"I imagine we’ll try to get him qualified for the Melbourne Cup; that would be the long-term aim," added Mullins.

Mullins has never won Friday's Duke of Edinburgh Stakes but boasts a great record in Royal Ascot staying handicaps, claiming eight since 2012, He fires Ethical Diamond at this, with a prize draw of 18 another tick in the box.

Opera Singer was so good winning a first Group One at Longchamp on Arc day last October but found the Irish 1,000 Guineas too testing at the Curragh.

A drop back in trip in the Coronation Stakes - the day's other Group One highlight - might be just what is needed to ignite the form of this Justify filly.

"She was only working for four weeks before the Guineas and really if she had finished mid-division then we would have been happy,” said Aidan O'Brien, whose four wins this week include Kyprios's brilliant Gold Cup success.

“We knew if we were thinking of coming to Ascot she would have to have a run and I was surprised with how she finished third.

"She could do anything and she could get much further than a mile, she is a big and very straightforward filly.”

Donnacha O'Brien landed his first Royal Ascot winner 12 months ago with Porto Fortuna in the Albany Stakes. He fires her at this challenge after a narrow second place to Elmalka at the 1000 Guineas in Newmarket.

"She'll like the fast ground and while it's a very hot race, but we hope she'll be bang there," he said.
"She's in good form and we think the track and trip will suit."