By Tom Frary
Following near-misses in the first three black-type events of this “Super Saturday”, Team Ballydoyle restored normal order with TDN Rising Star Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) in the G2 Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown. Not seen since beating the subsequent G3 Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes winner Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal) by seven lengths in the nine-furlong G3 Meld Stakes here due to his intended target at Saratoga being abandoned, the 10-11 favourite was quickly into his stride shadowing the leader.
Sent to the front by Ryan Moore approaching the furlong pole, the half-brother to his Australia-sired heavyweight stablemates Broome (Ire) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) who had captured the G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes on this card 12 months ago stretched to a 1 1/2-length verdict over course specialist Mutasarref (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
“He's a lovely, straightforward, genuine horse,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He has pace enough for a mile and will probably get a mile and a quarter. He's a lovely, relaxed, uncomplicated horse.”
“Christophe [Soumillon] rode him in the French Guineas and said 'this horse is going to win a group 1 very quick' after it. Then it just went a little bit wrong on us–we went to the French Derby and it was the wrong thing as it came too quick and then up to a mile and a half at Ascot which was the wrong thing as well,” he added. “He's a speed horse and he can go to the Breeder's Cup Mile or a Cox Plate. Adelaide was third in a trial in France on this weekend 10 years ago and he won the Cox Plate.”
Pedigree Notes
Diego Velasquez is a sharper type than his aforementioned half-siblings, with the seven-times group winner and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Broome (Ire) and his five-times group-winning full-brother Point Lonsdale (Ire) coming into their own over a mile and a half plus. He is the last foal out of the Listed
National Stakes winner Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), whose half-sister Luxuria (Ire) (Kheleyf) is the second dam of the G3 Hackwood Stakes and G3 Prix de Cabourg winner Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and his Listed Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy-winning full-brother Soldier's Heart (GB).
Frankel's influence on this family comes via the stable's G2 Futurity Stakes winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich (Ire) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Toulifaut (Ire), while his sire Galileo (Ire) is responsible for the stable's triple group 3 winner Ernest Hemingway (Ire). The distinguished family of Zoffany (Ire) also features the recent surprise GII Flower Bowl Stakes winner Idea Generation (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Back-To-Back wins for Diego Velazquez, who gets Aidan O'Brien up and running on the card benefitting from a lovely ride from Ryan Moore, taking the @TonyBet Solonaway Stakes in good style 🥇@BreedersCup | #itallcomesdowntothis pic.twitter.com/rij3M3Y7eo
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) September 14, 2024
Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
SOLONAWAY STAKES-G2, €200,000, Leopardstown, 9-14, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:38.94, gd.
1–DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Sweepstake (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng & US, $114,162), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: Dust Flicker (GB), by Suave Dancer
3rd Dam: Galaxie Dust, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
TDN Rising Star. (2,400,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Smith, Magnier, Tabor, Westerberg & Brant; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €120,000. Lifetime Record: 8-4-0-0, $309,431. *1/2 to Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), G1SW-Fr, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng & UAE, GISP-USA, $2,814,348; and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), MGSW & G1SP-Eng & Ire, G1SP-Fr, GSP-Bhr, $906,260. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mutasarref (GB), 136, g, 6, Dark Angel (Ire)–Mulkeyya (Ire), by Mawatheeq. (95,000gns 3yo '21 TATAHI). O-Eleanora Kennedy; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons. €40,000.
3–Mountain Bear (Ire), 131, c, 3, No Nay Never–Holy Alliance (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €20,000.
Margins: 1HF, HD, HF. Odds: 0.91, 20.00, 20.00.
Also Ran: Poker Face (Ire), Lord Massusus (Ire), Maljoom (Ire), Bright Stripes (Ire), Galen (GB), Flight Plan (GB), Bold Discovery, Power Under Me (Ire). Scratched: Gregarina (Fr).
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