Willie Mullins is eyeing another tilt at the Melbourne Cup following an emphatic victory by Sober in the Queen Alexandra Stakes (4400m) at Royal Ascot.
Sober, a recent acquisition by Terry Henderson’s OTI Racing from France, was bought with aspirations of contesting Australia’s greatest race. After dominating a 4000m event at Killarney in May by 10 lengths, the gelding continued his hot streak under Ryan Moore at Ascot.
The red-hot favourite Sober proved a class above in Royal Ascot’s concluding Queen Alexandra Stakes & books his place in this year’s Melbourne Cup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/eEsOdVhJru
— Racing.com (@Racing) June 21, 2025
Positioned comfortably in third for most of the contest, Moore urged Sober to the front with 400m to go and the pair surged away to score by a commanding five-length margin.
Mullins expressed pleasant surprise at how much progress the horse has shown since joining his stable.
“We bought this guy; he’s a lot better than we thought he would be,” Mullins said.
“I thought he’d improved, and he looks like he’s improved an awful lot.”
The Irish trainer confirmed that a 2025 Melbourne Cup campaign remains central to Sober’s long-term ambitions.
“Terry, the major owner in the horse, would want to bring him back down to Melbourne, so hopefully we get him qualified for the Melbourne Cup and that’s where we’ll probably aim for,” he said.
Mullins also revealed that Ethical Diamond, winner of the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes on day one of the meeting, is another on a path to the Flemington feature.
For Henderson, the success at Royal Ascot was a moment of immense pride. In addition to Sober’s win, he also celebrated victory in the Queen Anne Stakes with Docklands.
“I think this horse can go to Australia and Docklands can stay in England for the Champions Mile,” Henderson said.
He shared that Sober had been a long-time target for his team.
“I tried to buy Sober two years ago but he wasn’t for sale. When he came up for sale we had him earmarked and when I saw Willie in the ring I thought ‘help’, but we got together and the rest is history.”
For Ryan Moore, the win was his seventh of the Royal Ascot week and he praised Sober’s quality post-race.
“He’s a group winner and he beat them as he was entitled to. It’s great to ride seven winners, Aidan’s horses were in great form all week, when you’re riding for Aidan and Willie you’re going to ride winners.”
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