Frankel’s Diego Velazquez Wins The Champions Juvenile

[Wandering Eyes]

Leopardstown's Irish Champions Festival continued in style on Saturday with the second race seeing a Ballydoyle one-two in the G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. Despite the impressive attitude of Capulet (Justify) at the head of affairs, the 8-15 favourite Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB})) mastered him a furlong out before staying on strongly to score by half a length for the stable bragging rights. A half-brother to Australia's talented Broome (Ire) and Point Lonsdale (Ire), the winner who earned TDN Rising Star status with a 4 3/4-length success on debut at The Curragh last month was providing Ryan Moore with his first winner of the meeting and Aidan O'Brien with a 10th renewal. Atlantic Coast (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was 3 1/4 lengths behind in third, lending the race a solid look. Diego Velazquez was a 2.4million gns purchase at the Tatts Book 1 Sale, upstaged only by Godolphin's 2.8million gns buy.

 

Two from two for Diego Velazquez in an exciting finish to the @KPMG_Ireland Champions Juvenile Stakes!

A 1-2 for Ballydoyle with Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore off the mark at @LeopardstownRC #IrishChampionsFestival pic.twitter.com/oFr0i2Mb3y

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 9, 2023

Saturday, Leopardstown, Ireland
KPMG CHAMPIONS JUVENILE S. (GOLDEN FLEECE S.)-G2, €150,000, Leopardstown, 9-9, 2yo, 8fT, 1:40.46, gd.
1–DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Sweepstake (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng & US, $114,162), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: Dust Flicker (GB), by Suave Dancer
3rd Dam: Galaxie Dust, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (2,400,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Smith, Magnier, Tabor, Westerberg & Brant; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €90,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $109,221. *1/2 to Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), G1SW-Fr, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng & UAE, GISP-US, $2,788,778; and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW & G1SP-Eng, $439,967. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Capulet, 131, c, 2, Justify–Wedding Vow (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-Orpendale, Wynatt & Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €30,000.
3–Atlantic Coast (Ire), 131, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Liwa Palace (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Al Shira'aa Farms (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €15,000.
Margins: HF, 3 1/4, HD. Odds: 0.53, 9.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Deepone (GB), Bremen (Ire), Formal Display (GB), Democracy (Ire). Scratched: Bad Desire (Fr).

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