Ethical Diamond sparkles for Willie Mullins

Ethical Diamond made it a momentous day at Royal Ascot for Willie Mullins when powering down the outside to win the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Mullins and his wife Jackie had taken part in the royal procession before racing and his dual-purpose performer had no trouble in justifying 3-1 favouritism.

Fourth last year, he was 2lb higher having also finished fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham – but the result barely looked in doubt and he came home two lengths clear of Mutaawid and Naqeeb.

Mullins said: “Last year he just ran too free and things didn’t work out for him, but he still ran a cracker to be fourth so I thought if we get things right this year he had a real live chance and it worked out that way.

“We will give him a little break, bring him home; we will look at York next, a race like the Ebor. We’d love to (go to Australia) if we could get him qualified, that was my first thought coming in.

“I think he would handle a trip to Australia, he wears the hood because he’s a bit keen, but that’d be no problem.

“There’s a big one over hurdles in him too, but for the moment we’ll concentrate on Flat racing.”

He added: “These are just fantastic days, Jackie was just saying to me coming in here today ‘just enjoy it’, and then to have a winner on top that is the cherry on the cake.

“Tuesday was a little disappointing, but we live to fight another day and hopefully Reaching High (unlucky in the Ascot Stakes for the King and Queen) will be back for the same race next year. Ryan had nowhere to go, he was just locked in on the inside and that was that.”

Ed Walker’s profitable season continued when Never Let Go (22-1) pounced late to win the Sandringham Stakes.

Walker has enjoyed a string of Group-race successes this season but the victory will have meant plenty to the man on top, Kieran Shoemark, who has endured a trying time this season with the defeat of Field Of Gold in the 2000 Guineas.

Low numbers once again dominated on the straight track, after three days of high numbers being favoured, with Never Let Go beating Cajole – trained by the Gosdens – by a length.

The King and Queen were out of luck with their runner, Purple Rainbow, who was handy early but faded.

Walker said: “When Kieran lost the job with John and Thady (Gosden), I said, ‘I don’t mean to be selfish, but I’m thrilled because it means I can use you more!’. He’s a great jockey, a great guy and he will bounce back.”

He added of his winner: “I think she can go on. The family get better with time, she’s still very raw and unfurnished and leggy.”