Irish master trainer Willie Mullins strengthens Melbourne Cup hand with Royal Ascot winner Sober

Irish master trainer Willie Mullins has bolstered a potential Melbourne Cup hand with Australian-owned Royal Ascot winner Sober also being aimed at Flemington.

Ryan Moore, riding Sober, wins the Queen Alexandra Stakes on day five during Royal Ascot 2025. Picture: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse

Irish master trainer Willie Mullins has bolstered a potential Melbourne Cup hand with Australian-owned Royal Ascot winner Sober also being aimed at Flemington.

OTI Racing stayer Sober won the Queen Alexandra Stakes (4355m) by five lengths on Sunday (AEST).

Mullins unveiled Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes-winner Ethical Diamond 24 hours earlier as a possible Cup raider.

Ethical Diamond is raced by the owners of Mullins stablemate Absurde, who could also return for a third shot at the Melbourne Cup after placing fifth and seventh respectively the past two years.

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“We bought this guy (Sober) and he is a lot better than we thought he would be,” Mullins said.

“I thought he had improved, and it looks like he has improved an awful lot.

“Terry (Henderson, OTI Racing director) would want to bring him down for the Melbourne Cup, so hopefully we get him qualified … there are a lot of hoops to jump through, but we will get them done.”

DOMINANT!

SOBER HACKS UP IN THE QUEEN ALEXANDRA STAKES FOR RYAN MOORE AND WILLIE MULLINS! #ROYALASCOTpic.twitter.com/Z7s5Sg52qw

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2025

• Mullins eyes Melbourne Cup with impressive Royal Ascot winner Ethical Diamond

Henderson echoed Mullins.

“This is such a thrill for our partners back in Australia that invest in these horses,” Henderson said after OTI bookended the Royal Ascot meeting with Docklands and Sober.

“We all know Royal Ascot is the greatest race meeting in the world and to have a winner at each end of the meeting is just incredible.

“I think Sober can go to Australia, while Docklands can stay in England for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.”

DOCKLANDS pips ROSALLION in the Queen Anne Stakes. Congratulations to jockey Mark Zahra, trainer @H_Eustace, and all connections. #RoyalAscotpic.twitter.com/J8sHjOTBnz

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 17, 2025

• Mark Zahra wins at Royal Ascot aboard Docklands as Asfoora is denied

Ethical Diamond and Sober must place in a Group race over 2300m or beyond to satisfy Melbourne Cup ballot conditions, or alternatively run fourth or fifth in a Group 1 within the distance criteria.

Victoria Racing Club executive Leigh Jordon welcomed the European interest in the Melbourne Cup.

“It’s early, (European) trainers concentrate on Royal Ascot first and then the July Festival, Goodwood and York, then the picture will become a little bit clearer,” Jordon said.

“You got to have a few balls up in the air to try and get a few.”

SOBER bookends the carnival for OTI with victory in the Queen Alexandra Stakes. What a week it has been.

Many thanks to @WillieMullinsNH and Ryan Moore. It was an easy, albeit long, watch.

Melb Cup perhaps comes onto his radar! @FlemingtonVRC@MelbourneCuphttps://t.co/Aqro1DbECh

— OTI Racing (@OTIRacing) June 21, 2025

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Jordon backed avid Cup supporter Mullins to qualify Ethical Diamond and Sober.

“He’s won everything but he’s hell bent on trying to win the Cup,” Jordon said.

“Leave it to Willie (qualification) … he’s got plenty of ammo.”

Ethical Diamond is $18 in pre-nominations Melbourne Cup betting, while Sober, not currently in futures market, could attract a similar quote.

Ghostwriter, trained by Clive Cox, placed third in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and connections said “America, Australia” could be on the cards.