Diego Velazquez dominates the Meld Stakes

Aidan O'Brien-trained Frankel colt roared back to form with a win in Thursday's Gr.3 Meld Stakes at Leopardstown (18th July).

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 19th July 2024, by Tom Frary:

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.

O'Brien commented: "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 Gr.2 Champions Juvenile Stakes here in September, Diego Velazquez had been eighth in the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club and 10th in the King Edward VII 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.