Casey: Everyone at Closutton Would Be Delighted to Win the Melbourne Cup For Willie

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , Willie Mullins ' assistant David Casey has assessed the yard's star names and its growing global ambitions.

Casey has confirmed Closutton has no runners in this year's Melbourne Cup , but revealed it remains firmly on Willie Mullins ' bingo card as the highest-calibre Flat prize the yard could realistically attain.

The right-hand man has also previewed Ethical Diamond 's trip to the Breeders' Cup , and given updates on Lossiemouth , Gaelic Warrior , I Am Maximus , Mighty Park and Ballyburn , while paying tribute to the late Galopin Des Champs .

Melbourne and Australia

How Many Horses Are You Sending to the Melbourne Cup?

None; we have no horses for it this year. That's why I'm at home! We had a couple earlier in the year that we thought might get there, but they had little niggles and didn't make it. So, we are giving it a miss unfortunately. It is very disappointing because you'd love to have horses of that quality. We've got a couple in the pipeline who hopefully will make it if they progress through the season next year and prove to be good enough.

It's still very much on Willie 's bingo card. We won a Breeders' Cup race last year, and we always thought the Melbourne Cup was probably the highest-calibre Flat race we could possibly attain, considering we don't tend to have a lot of Group 1 Flat horses. Everyone in the yard would be delighted to win it. It is a great trip, and I've gone there a lot of years, so I know the place well. To go down and be victorious for Willie would be marvellous.

What Could We Learn From the Australians?

I fear the bird may have flown. Their TAB betting is very like the Paris Mutuel , so it all goes back into racing. Here it goes to the bookmakers, and the sport just gets a cut of it. Australia gets a lot of money flowing into the sport, and there's a lot of syndication. Wealthy owners join together and are able to spend a whole lot more. They're happy enough to have 10% of ten horses rather than just one very expensive horse of their own. It spreads the risk.

The Breeders' Cup

What's the Plan With Ethical Diamond?

He ran well in Kentucky a couple of weeks ago when he was second to Sir Mark Prescott 's filly. This year has been a little disappointing for him; I don't think he's been at the level he was last year. He won in Leopardstown , but he was a little disappointing even then. He has been running a bit below his level of last year and will have to step up; touch wood, all being well, it's all systems go back to Keeneland . And the way races are run in America should help a little bit too.

Has the Focus Shifted Away From National Hunt?

I would not say it has changed the emphasis, but you are always looking to take advantage of where you think you could win races and what you could do with your horses. That has never changed, and that was the case before we went to America . We were always looking for opportunities and still are, best to place our horses wherever that may be in the world. If we think there is a chance, then Willie is more than willing to give it a go.

He is very adventurous. He likes to try anything! We have had winners on most continents and also in Australia before; but without doubt he'd love to win the big one in Melbourne .

What Do You Make of What Joseph O'Brien Is Doing?

He is an absolutely phenomenal talent. The things he is doing with racehorses at the moment are astonishing. He'll have 10 or 11 in the Melbourne Cup , probably half the field! I'm not sure how the Aussies will take that! He is doing amazing things, and fair play to him. He is a very nice guy, a phenomenal trainer and the best of luck to him.

Has That Changed Your Buying Strategy?

Willie did buy five- or six yearlings this year. We haven't really done that in the past. We've tended to buy three-or-four-year-olds with the idea of going jumping and then coming back on the Flat. You're probably only buying one or two a year, and hopefully one might be good enough to go to Melbourne . But Joseph and those other Flat trainers are buying up to 60 yearlings a year at maybe £100,000 each and bringing them through. Whereas we've been buying them for £500,000 as three-year-olds.

So, Willie said, you know what, maybe if I buy five or six yearlings this year and one of them proves good enough, then that makes real sense. That's the different route we've gone down.

The Big Guns

Is Lossiemouth Going Back For the Champion Hurdle?

I would imagine so. The two races for her would be the Champion Hurdle and the Mares' Hurdle . After winning the Champion Hurdle last year, she would be our main contender. I am not certain we would have another outstanding candidate coming through.

We didn't have anything in the first three of the Supreme , so I'd imagine she'd be our main contender for the Champion Hurdle . She is in great order. I was looking at her cantering up the gallop on Saturday, and she's in really good nick. If she could go back to the type of performance she gave last year, everyone would be delighted.

Gaelic Warrior For the Gold Cup?

I rode him out this morning myself. He is well in himself. He will probably start in the John Durkan , and hopefully he gets a smooth run through the season and keeps sound. That is half the battle: keeping them sound and healthy. If you can do that, then you have a fighting chance.

I Am Maximus For Aintree?

I would have thought so. Again, he will probably start in the John Durkan , and I don't know his exact route after that. All those long-distance races are open to him, and I am sure Willie and the McManus family would love to go back to Aintree to try to win it a third time.

How Devastating Was Losing Galopin Des Champs?

Very disappointing. He was out in the field; I don't know whether he got a kick or what happened. It's a shame to lose any horse, but a horse of that ability had grown into everybody's hearts, even outside the yard. It's devastating for his owners, Greg and Audrey . Luckily, we still have brilliant memories to cherish. It hits the yard hard.

Is Mighty Park Something Special?

He's a horse we liked last year. He won his maiden impressively after winning point to point. But he was very disappointing at Cheltenham , and maybe he is not as good as we think. All the Irish horses in the Supreme at Cheltenham ran really disappointingly. El Cairos was closest, and he was fifth. Maybe we are shooting for the stars. But he looks like an immense talent. He is a huge big horse who looks made for fences.

What's the Latest on Ballyburn?

He has an injury, and he won't be around this season. He missed Punchestown , and he'll likely miss most of the season.

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