Such an eye-catcher when fourth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp in May, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) who failed to stay the mile and a half of Royal Ascot's G2 King Edward VII Stakes roared back to form dropping to nine furlongs in Thursday's G3 Meld Stakes at Leopardstown. Kept wide early by Ryan Moore, the 8-11 favourite took up a prominent position and when sent for home two out stretched his rivals to breaking point en route to a seven-length success from Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal).
“He's made like a miler and loved the ground–he could be a Cox Plate horse, as he's definitely not short of pace. Ryan said he's got all the class and all the speed in the world. At least we know now what to do with him.”
Promising so much when successful in the G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes here in September, Diego Velazquez had been eighth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and 10th in the KEVII after his Poulains effort so this was very much a case of back on track. “He ran a lovely race in the French Guineas and then we went to the French Derby with him, where Ryan just said maybe over a mile-and-a-quarter we rode him too forward and the pace of the race didn't work out for him,” O'Brien added. “We felt very much coming from Ascot that he's not a mile-and-a-half horse–he's probably an eight, nine or 10-furlong horse. He was different today. He has a lot of options and we'll give him a little bit of time now.”
Pedigree Notes
Diego Velazquez, who cost 2.4million gns at the Tattersalls Book 1 Sale, is the last known foal out of the Listed National Stakes winner and GIII Appalachian Stakes and G3 Princess Margaret Stakes-placed Sweepstake whose sons of Australia (GB), Broome (Ire) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) boast multiple pattern-race successes between them including the former's win in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Sweepstake's dam Dust Flicker (GB) (Suave Dancer) is a full-sister to the G3 Prix de la Nonette scorer Dust Dancer (GB), in turn the second dam of the stable's G1 Phoenix Stakes-winning sire Zoffany (Ire), Frankel's G2 Futurity Stakes winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich (Ire) and the G3 Bengough Stakes winner Projection (GB) also by Acclamation.
Bulaxie produced the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Claxon (GB) (Caerleon), who is responsible for the GIII Hillsborough Stakes scorer Cassydora (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), in turn the dam of the multiple group-winning stayer Ernest Hemingway (Ire) by Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale scorer Toulifaut (Ire) by Frankel himself. Recent updates to this dynasty have been provided by the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and G2 Debutante Stakes-placed Sunset Shiraz (Ire) (Time Test {GB}) and the G3 Prix de Cabourg winner and G2 Norfolk Stakes-placed Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}).
Thursday, Leopardstown, Ireland
MELD STAKES-G3, €57,500, Leopardstown, 7-18, 3yo/up, 9fT, 1:52.32, 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)
(2,400,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Smith, Magnier, Tabor,
Westerberg & Brant; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan
O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-0-0,
$180,079. *1/2 to Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Hwt. Older
Horse-Ire- at 11 – 14 f., Hwt. Older Horse-Ire- at 11 – 14 f.,
G1SW-Fr, GSW-UAE, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng, GISP-USA,
$2,814,348; 1/2 to Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), MGSW
& G1SP-Eng, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Fr, GSP-Bhr, $878,356.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Tarawa (Ire), 132, f, 4, Shamardal–Tanoura (Ire), by
Dalakhani (Ire). O-H H Aga Khan; B-His Highness The Aga
Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €10,000.
3–Bright Stripes (Ire), 126, c, 3, Starspangledbanner
(Aus)–Dutch Rose (Ire), by Dutch Art (GB). (22,500gns Ylg '22
TATOCT). O-Paul Hardy; B-Diomed Bloodstock Ltd (IRE);
T-Andrew Oliver. €5,000.
Margins: 7, 1 1/4, 3. Odds: 0.73, 2.75, 22.00.
Also Ran: Self Belief (Ire), Without Words, Bold Discovery, Real Appeal (Ger). Scratched: Stromberg (GB).
Diego Velazquez returns to winning ways in the Meld Stakes after showing an impressive turn of foot under Ryan Moore for Aidan O'brien! 👏 pic.twitter.com/tGhjkhMoap
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) July 18, 2024
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