Brilliant timing from Sangster with Diego Velazquez buy
There have been few more rapturous receptions to a winner in the usually reserved enclosure of Deauville than that given to Diego Velazquez (Ire) on this sweltering Sunday afternoon. Providing instant justification and reward for the investment by Sam Sangster Bloodstock, Ballydoyle's Diego Velazquez edged a thriller from Notable Speech (Dubawi) in Sunday's G1 The Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. Always happy playing a prominent role away from the fence under Christophe Soumillon, the 12-1 shot stayed on to wrest the lead from Dancing Gemini (Camelot) with 100 metres remaining and found the line a head in front of the fast-closing Godolphin runner, who was 0.75l behind in third.
Sam Sangster completed what could well be one of the most significant deals of his career earlier this week, ensuring that the Frankel (GB) colt who had hitherto run in Derrick Smith's silks for the Coolmore partnership instead bore the colours which were so intrinsically linked to the early days of that empire.
Arguably the most famous carrier of those silks was Sadler's Wells, bred by Sangster's father Robert and trained at Ballydoyle by Vincent O'Brien before a stallion career that would rewrite the record books and put Coolmore Stud at the epicentre of the bloodstock world. The legendary sire provided his home team with Galileo, who in turn provided Juddmonte with Frankel, who has now in some respects completed the circle in delivering Sam his first Group 1 win and the prospect of a tantalising stud career ahead for Diego Velazquez. Breed to race to breed.
A director of the National Stud in Newmarket, where his half-brother Ben was previously chairman, Sam Sangster was bestowed with a name that will open doors for him in racing, but he long ago proved himself to have the eye of a horseman, the manners to make him well liked and, perhaps most importantly, a genuine passion for the sport of horseracing. The man was moved to tears and visibly shaking in the aftermath of Diego Velazquez's win in the Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques Le Marois, and this was no show put on for the cameras.
“We've been hunting for a horse for the National Stud for a while now,” he said. “The team at Coolmore were so kind to let me get in on him. I went to Ballydoyle and saw him. Honestly, he blew me away when he came out of the box. I wanted to try everything to try and secure him.”
God loves a trier, and apparently so does John Magnier, as the deal was sealed in ink less than a week ago. Diego Velazquez will stand at the National Stud in 2026 alongside Stradivarius, Bradsell, Rajasinghe and Lope Y Fernandez, who remains part-owned by Coolmore.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained 4-year-old travelled sweetly in his first start since winning the G2 Minstrel Stakes a month ago. Always handy on Deauville's straight mile, Diego Velazquez went on from Dancing Gemini and looked set to win easily when the rejuvenated Notable Speech threw down a late challenge along the stands' rail to force a photo.
“Don't!” Sangster said, when asked whether he thought he had won the race. He has after all suffered the agony in recent years of watching Kathmandu being denied by a head by Rouhiya in last year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Isaac Shelby take the same spot in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. This time the narrow verdict went his way.
“Aidan was very confident. Even in the pre-parade ring, I think I was the first one in there half an hour before the horse. Aidan just filled me with confidence that he's in the best place he's ever had him. So it kind of gave me a bit more of a spring in my step because I've been pretty nervous all week.”
He continued, “Obviously, it's an incredibly emotional moment for me seeing the old man's colours come in. And it's my first Group 1 winner in those colours. We have been knocking on the door, and it was nice to reverse that.
“God, we are lucky that we are getting him and he's coming to the UK. We'll be offering him to British breeders. And now he's a Group 1 winner over a mile – just a small update!
“He's so genuine, he's so tough. And he's a son of Frankel. Thank you to Aidan and all the team, and to Christophe Soumillon.”
MV Magnier, who had bought Diego Velazquez from his breeder Denis Brosnan of Croom House Stud for 2.4 million gns (AU$5.2 million) at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, was among the first to congratulate Sangster in the winner's enclosure. The family ties run deep, with Magnier's father John and grandfather Vincent O'Brien having long been friends and business partners with the Sangsters. This particular equine family has also been kind to Coolmore. Diego Velazquez's half-brothers Broome and Point Lonsdale, both by Australia, have won 12 group races between them for Aidan O'Brien to add to the four he had himself won prior to his change of ownership.
“It's a great result for Sam Sangster,” said Magnier. “He put his neck on the line and the horse came up trumps for him. Sam really deserves it, and in fairness to him and (brothers) Ben and Adam, they've all got a great eye for a horse. Having the Sangster colours back in Ballydoyle and winning a Group 1 means a lot to everyone.”
G3 Prix Francois Boutin won by Rayif
Providing a welcome winner for The Aga Khan Studs on the Deauville card they sponsored in its entirety, 2-year-old colt Rayif (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) lit up the G3 Prix Francois Boutin with a display that shouted Classic potential. A narrow winner over six furlongs here last month, the half-brother to the Commonwealth Cup third Rayevka (Blue Point) brushed aside Ballydoyle's 7-10 favourite Daytona (Wootton Bassett) with a furlong remaining and surged to the line for a 2.5l success. The Coventry fourth Andab (Saxon Warrior) denied Daytona second by a head.
“I thought he did it very convincingly and his half-sister is very good and very fast, so we seem to be bringing out the speed of that family,” Princess Zahra Aga Khan said of the exciting Francis-Henri Graffard trainee. “He was still very green today and we can hope that he might run in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.”
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard added, “This was a step up, as it was a tough line-up, but he was rather extraordinary. He will surely aim for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, but I don't want to get bogged down in ground too soft.”
Rayif, who becomes the 20th Group winner for his sire, is out of the Listed-placed Rayisa (Holy Roman Emperor) whose 3-year-old filly Rayevka has already established herself as a top-level sprinter. She is kin to the G3 Athasi Stakes winner Rehana (Dark Angel), who was also placed in the G2 Cape Verdi, while the third dam Rayyana (Rainbow Quest) was responsible for the G3 Killavullan Stakes winner and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Rayeni (Indian Ridge). Also connected to last year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Rouhiya (Lope De Vega), Rayisa's colt foal is by Vadeni.
