Diego Velazquez highlights O'Brien's impressive Curragh treble

Irish Examiner

20-07-2025

Classy Diego Velazquez bagged his second Group 2 success and retained his unbeaten record on home soil when landing the Romanised Minstrel Stakes, highlight of a Sunday treble for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.
Close to the pace, set by California Dreamer, the 11/8 favourite hit the front before the furlong-pole and then responded to Moore's handling to hold 25/1 shot East Hampton by a neck.
'This year has been a bit of a mess for him. He got upset in the stalls at Leopardstown and had to be withdrawn. And then the 'Queen Anne' turned into a non-event for him," O'Brien explained.
"A mile is his trip – this seven furlongs was a bit short and the ground a bit easy. But everyone has been happy with him at home and he's a classy horse, powerful and strong, and knuckled down well.'
Described by his rider as 'uncomplicated, with a very good attitude" Diego Velazquez will now step back up to a mile and into Group 1 company, with Goodwood's Sussex Stakes and the Prix Jacques Le Marois possible targets.
Following the withdrawal of morning favourite Signora, Moore switched to Sugar Island in the opening two-year-old fillies maiden. Although a market drifter, drifting out to 9/2, the Dubawi filly delivered in good style to spark the Ballydoyle treble. Having raced prominently, she stayed on to beat fellow debutante Saint Agatha by a half-length.
'She was ready for her first run and was very green," O'Brien commented. "Ryan said that when he asked her to quicken at the two, she found plenty – and that's a good sign. She'll have no problem going a mile this season and should be a lovely filly over a mile and a quarter, or more, next year.'
The Ballydoyle treble was completed when 88-rated Light As Air dug deep to see off Winston Junior in the mile and a half maiden.
Earlier, the Paddy Twomey-trained One Look, stepping-up to a mile and a quarter for the first time, bounced back from her trip to Royal Ascot when taking the Group 3 Al Shira'aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes under Wayne Lordan, sweeping past Azada inside the final furlong to score by a length, with favourite Tasmania coming from last to take third spot.
'She didn't enjoy the clearest passage through, but Wayne looked happy, and she hit the line well,' stated Twomey. 'Ascot didn't work out for her and she appreciated the ten furlongs today, on softer ground.
"We just let her tick over since Ascot. But she's four now and we might run her a bit more. We might look at races like the Blandford, back here, the Romanet and the Opera with her.'
Winning rider Lordan added: 'I sat where I was happy and she travelled quite well. As Billy (Lee) told me, she hit a bit of a flat spot but, when I pulled her out, I knew she'd finish well. She pulled up when she got to the front, but won well.'