Diego Velazquez prevails in Minstrel Stakes
The 11-8 favourite for the Group Two event in the hands of Ryan Moore, he was well away and always in a handy position alongside Adrian Murray's Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up California Dreamer.
Moore may have been low in the saddle inside the final quarter-mile but he had a willing ally and although the challengers were queuing up a furlong from home, it was only David Marnane's 25-1 shot East Hampton who emerged from the pack to lay down a stern challenge in the closing stages.
Diego Velazquez, however, was never headed and even though East Hampton was within a neck at the winning post, the class of the Ballydoyle colt was always keeping him on top.
O'Brien said: 'A mile is probably his trip. We were preparing him for Ascot and we had him in the stalls at Leopardstown, but he got upset and had to be withdrawn (from the Amethyst Stakes) and that upset his Ascot plan.
'I wasn't confident enough to tell Ryan to ride him as forward as he would have liked (in the Queen Anne Stakes) because he hadn't had a run. They only walked the first half of the race, so it was a non event really.
'We knew he would come forward a lot from then to today and he did well to win today over seven. He's a brave horse and Ryan gave him a good ride.
'He's a very well-made horse – powerful, strong, a great walker. Physically as a specimen he's a tank really.
'We'll go back up to a mile now for the Sussex or the Jacques le Marois, something like that.
'He'll have no problem getting back up to nine furlongs or a mile and a quarter at the end of the season.'
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5 hours ago
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The bookies are taking a chance by chalking him up around the 20-1 mark and he can go close under his capable 5lb claimer. DORSET (1.55 Goodwood, nb) This selection should be right at home on the south coast of England! The Aidan O'Brien hope is bred to be classy and looked full of promise when scooting in at The Curragh last month. He is proven over this trip and has much more to come. FRENCH MASTER (3.05 Goodwood, treble) He was impressive when winning a Royal Ascot handicap and this longer trip should bring even more improvement. He can go close for the Gosdens who love this race. Templegate's TV verdicts 1.20 GREY CUBAN clocked a massive personal best when scooting in at Chester last week and looks a fair price to go close again. The booking of Oisin Murphy takes the eye and he is best over this trip on fast or sticky ground. Five of the past six runnings of this have been won by a double-figure draw and even a 7lb rise in the weights doesn't dampen confidence. Jolly Jack Tar is improving with every run and looks the main danger. This is his turf debut for the Gosdens but he had plenty in hand when scoring at Chelmsford last time. He's up 9lb for that but stays and can progress again. Castle Cove is another coming here from a Chester win that was all the better as it came from stall 13. He's on the upgrade for William Haggas. English Oak ran well at Hamilton last time and will go close if seeing out this longer trip while improver Defiance lurks on a fair mark. 1.55 DORSET looked the latest future star off the Ballydoyle production line when stepping up from his debut to win impressively at The Curragh. As you'd expect he's from a high-class family and likes this trip. He should take another big step forward under Ryan Moore. Wathnan Racing snapped up Humidity just before his all-the-way win in the Chesham at Royal Ascot and he's another with plenty more to come. He looks the main threat. Zavateri clocked a good time when winning the July Stakes over 6f at Newmarket. He came from off a strong pace there and should enjoy going up in trip. He has a 3lb penalty but Eve Johnson Houghton continues in excellent form. Do Or Do Not came home with a real rattle for second in that race and will also appreciate this trip. Andab needs more after his Coventry Stakes fourth while Laureate Crown was impressive on his Ascot debut and could nick a place at decent odds. 2.30 NOBLE CHAMPION was impressive when winning the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. Being gelded over the winter has clearly worked wonders as he looked a different horse and clocked a decent time despite drifting across the track late on. He's proven over the trip and is open to plenty of improvement. Kinross still looks the main danger at the age of eight. He's won this twice and has been placed on his two other attempts. 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He travelled nicely off the pace and had to come very wide around the home turn before picking up quickly along the short Ascot straight to score going away. He clearly has more on his plate here but that built on another promising victory over the same trip around here in May. That shows his liking for the track and moving up to two miles can unlock more improvement too. There's no doubt he needs a step forward but at this early stage of his career that's highly likely. Illinois sets the standard after his second in the Ascot Gold Cup last time to the gutsy Trawlerman. That was his first crack over two miles or more and he saw it out well enough, still finishing ahead of some useful marathon runners. He kicked off the season winning the Ormonde at Chester so he comes here without too many miles on the clock. The doubt about him has to be the track although handling the Roodee bodes well for taking to Goodwood and he has been a little uneasy in the market this week. That's largely because of a move for Aidan O'Brien stablemate Scandinavia who took the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last time without breaking sweat. He was beaten just a length in the Queen's Vase before that and is another who looks suited to this trip. He's the Ballydoyle second string but still sets a pretty decent standard. Sweet William fans will hope eight line up as he has solid each-way claims at a track that really suits him. He won a big handicap here in 2023 and was second in this race to Kyprios 12 months ago and none of today's rivals are up to that standard. He can be relied on to give his running and a podium finish is highly likely. Sunway is interesting going back over a long trip after a fair run in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot but needs more. Military Academy came up short at Listed level here last time and is likely to find this a bit too much. Trueshan isn't the horse he was and wants it much softer, while Dubai Future was a good if distant third in the Ascot Gold Cup last time and is getting on at the age of nine. 3.45 DREAM COMPOSER has a cracking record at Goodwood and looks a big price in a wide-open race. He's dropped to his last winning mark and went close at Pontefract last time. A repeat of that gives him a solid chance. Redorange was beaten just half a length in hot company at Ascot last time despite having the worst of the draw. That was after an excellent third at the Royal meeting and he's a threat. Adrestia finished two places ahead of him in that race and ran well in a Sandown Group 3 last time so is respected. Shagraan often runs well here and is another coming off a good spin in Group company. Regal Envoy won nicely twice at Windsor before misfiring at York and could bounce back under William Buick. Miss Attitude went close in a York Listed contest last time. Templegate's tips FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
