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International targets, including a trip to Australia, could be on the agenda for the talented Diego Velazquez, who made it two-in-a-row with victory in the one mile Group 2 Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Day.
One of the best named horses in racing, with the colt's unusual white markings matching the famous painting of Philip IV by his namesake, Diego Velazquez has been a frustrating part of O'Brien's three-year-old squad. Winner of the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown as a two-year-old, the colt was touted to be one of Ballydoyle's leading Classic contenders for 2024 but failed to hit the frame in both attempts. Fourth in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains on seasonal reappearance, he was well-fancied to go closer in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club on his second outing and finished well-beaten down the field.
Another poor performance followed at Royal Ascot but a return to his favoured Leopardstown for the nine furlong Group 3 Meld Stakes in July ended in a comfortable victory for the colt and a similar performance followed in the Solonaway.
Settled in midfield by jockey Ryan Moore in the initial stages of the mile contest, he travelled well enough to find second place after two furlongs and continued to make progress. Hitting the front at the one furlong marker, the colt pulled comfortably clear to record a one-and-a-half length success over Mutasarref with Mountain Bear back in third.
In an interview with RTE, O'Brien said: "He's a lovely, straightforward, genuine horse.
"He has pace enough for a mile and will probably get a mile and a quarter. He's a lovely relaxed, uncomplicated horse.
"Christophe (Soumillon) rode him (in the French Guineas) and said 'this horse is going to win a Group One very quick' after it.
"Then it just went a little bit wrong on us. We went to the French Derby, and it was the wrong thing as it was too quick. Then I went up to a mile and a half at Ascot, which was the wrong thing as well.
"He's a speed horse, he's probably a miler that will get a mile and a quarter."
With a strong hand of three-year-old colts, O'Brien has the option of sending the talented Diego Velazquez further afield for Group 1 glory.
"He could go to a Breeders' Cup Mile or the Cox Plate," mused O'Brien.
"Adelaide was third in a trial in France on this weekend (10 years ago) and he won the Cox Plate."
