O'Brien looks to Group 1 targets after Diego Velazquez Minstrel win

Ballydoyle's Diego Velazquez (Frankel) proved that the seven-furlong trip of the Curragh's Gr.2 Minstrel Stakes was well within his repertoire on Sunday (20th July).

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 21st July 2025, by Tom Frary:

Sent off the 11-8 favourite despite his Royal Ascot Queen Anne no-show, last year's Gr.2 Solonaway Stakes and Gr.3 Meld Stakes winner made Ryan Moore work relatively early but gave what was required to score by a neck from the three-year-old East Hampton.

"He had a tough comeback run and it didn't work out at Royal Ascot, but he showed a good attitude there and is a lovely horse," his rider said. "He's an uncomplicated horse and there wasn't much pace, so I let him stride on. He tries hard and I'd like to think he'll come forward again."

Aidan O'Brien added: "He had to be withdrawn from the Amethyst Stakes after getting upset in the stalls and that upset his Ascot plan. Then I wasn't confident enough to tell Ryan to ride him as forward as he would have liked in the Queen Anne, because he hadn't had a run and 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, as a mile is probably his trip. He's a very well-made horse - powerful, strong and 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."