He cost 2.4million guineas as a yearling and is one of the most eye-catching horses you would ever see, so of course it’s going to be a big story in global bloodstock news when he wins his first G1!
Aidan O’Brien and Christophe Soumillon combined to win the Group I Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m) by a head in a thriller with expensive Frankel stallion Diego Velazquez, who was recently purchased by Sam Sangster with a view to standing at the National Stud next year.
A Group II winner at two and three, Diego Velazquez had his first run back this year at Royal Ascot when unplaced behind Docklands in the Group I Queen Anne Stakes, but there were excuses that day and he then bounced back to win the Group II Minstrel Stakes at The Curragh.
Upped in class and distance for this G1 assignment, Diego Velasquez faced a deep field of milers with Japanese glamour mare Ascoli Piceno the favourite after the scratching of Rosallion due to a bruised foot.
The flashy stallion produced the run of his life to kick clear and then hold off a fast finish from Godolphin runner Notable Speech, who won last year’s Newmarket 2000 Guineas and Goodwood Sussex Stakes.
“Diego Velasquez always looked a smart horse. He had good two and three-year-old form, he's determined. His last run was very good, and it's all come right in the last week or so. It's always incredible to have a horse running in Mr Sangster's colours, so I'm delighted for him,” said Aidan O’Brien.
The race is a 'win and you're in' for the Breeders' Cup later this year, but Sam Sangster was happy to enjoy the moment.
"That would be nice, but I'll leave plans to Aidan and the team at Ballydoyle. I'm just so over the moon,” he said.
Bred by Epona Bloodstock, Diego Velazquez was purchased by MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 2.4million guineas from the Croom House Stud draft at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale where he was the second highest priced horse of the sale.
He is a three-quarter brother to Group I winner Broome and Group II winner Point Lonsdale (who are both by Galileo stallion Australia) and is the third stakes-winner from top producing Acclamation stakes-winner Sweepstake, who has left seven winners from 11 to race.
A Group winner at two, three and four with six wins from11 starts, Diego Velasquez is the 39th Group I winner for champion sire Frankel.
Having just come back from the Victorian stallion parades where we saw the state’s champion sire Toronado (IRE) at Adam Sangster’s Swettenham Stud, it makes me more than hopeful we may see Diego Velasquez in Victoria next spring.
