ENGLISH TEXTS
a final surge, came to“ crucify” Romantic Warrior at the end of an epic mano a mano. Setting a new race record in the process, Forever Young thus offered a second Saudi Cup triumph to his trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who had already won in 2023 with Panthalassa.
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BY MÉLODIE JANVIER
WILLIE MULLINS IN TEARS
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The smiles of a father and son, winning together the Liverpool Grand National, one of the most mythical races in the sport. But if this is a family story, it is also one of deeply moving friendship. Nick Rockett had been bought by Sadie Andrew, the wife of Stuart Andrew. Sadie had gone to school with Willie Mullins and her dream was to own a horse and entrust it to Willie’ s care. Sadly, in 2022, Sadie learned she had cancer, and to bring her a bit of joy, Willie Mullins ran Nick Rockett a few days before her passing. That day, Nick Rockett finished fourth, prompting Sadie to say:“ He’ s not fit yet, but when he is, he will win.” Sadie was right …
BREEDERS’ CUP Willie Mullins continued to walk on water in 2025 and, as a true master trainer, delivered yet another XXL achievement by winning the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf( Gr. 1) with Ethical Diamond. Another emotionally charged victory for the Closutton maestro:“ I always said that winning the Grand National with my son Patrick was my greatest achievement, but this might well be the second-best thing. I just couldn’ t believe it.” What’ s next for Willie Mullins? See you in March at Cheltenham!
VIDEOS( 1) Relive the historic achievement of the Mullins family in the Grand National! Beyond the victory of a father and son, it was the triumph of a trainer who placed his horses 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd, 5 th and 7 th in one of the toughest race in the world.( 2) A side of Willie Mullins rarely seen: speechless, overwhelmed with emotion.( 3)“ It’ s the greatest day of my life!” Willie Mullins’ first words after his son Patrick’ s victory. The pride and joy of a father.
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BY MÉLODIE JANVIER
GODOLPHIN’ S FANTASTIC FOUR
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What a fairy tale for Godolphin’ s blue silks. In just three days, across two continents separated by thousands of kilometres, Sheikh Mohammed’ s representatives achieved the extraordinary feat of winning— not one, not two, not three, but FOUR Group 1 races! A look back in images at this historic milestone.
RULING COURT It is always difficult to see a horse go, but these few words are also an opportunity to pay tribute to one who helped make Godolphin’ s achievement possible. Ruling Court lived up to his name beautifully:“ one who exercises authority or influence.” Purchased for € 2.3 million, he started his career with a maiden victory at Sandown in July of his two-year-old season, before winning the Emirates 2,000 Guineas. On May 3, back on English soil at Newmarket, he held off Field Of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas, offering Godolphin the third and penultimate Group 1 of the weekend. His third-place finish in the Coral-Eclipse( Gr. 1) behind Delacroix and Ombudsman would be his final race. The son of Justify succumbed to laminitis on August 29, leaving behind immense sadness.
DESERT FLOWER Sunday 4 May, 3:30 p. m., Newmarket. It was then Desert Flower’ s turn to step onto the track for the 1,000 Guineas. The daughter of Night Of Thunder made a thunderous seasonal return, winning decisively to give the blue silks their fourth toplevel success and bring these three simply historic days to a close.
GOOD CHEER She opened the show on the other side of the Atlantic. Despite a sluggish start, Good Cheer ultimately soared away with the Kentucky Oaks, launching what would become three days of pure magic.
SOVEREIGNTY A few hours later, Sovereignty, drawn 18 in the gate and long seen at the rear, produced a sensational home stretch to
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