Aidan O’Brien unveiled a genuine Cox Plate contender in Ireland on Thursday with his Frankel colt Diego Velazquez romping home in a Group 3 race at Leopardstown.
O’Brien said he felt Diego Velazquez shaped like a Cox Plate horse when the Coolmore-owned Frankel colt, who cost $2.4 million Guineas as a yearling, surged to a seven length victory over the 1800-metre trip.
Diego Velazquez had come off a sound beating at Royal Ascot in the 2400-metre King Edward V11 Stakes, but O’Brien later explained to Racing TV that the colt struggled at the distance.
“He's made like a miler, so he’s probably an eight, nine or 10 furlong horse,’’ O’Brien said.
‘’Ryan (Moore) said he’s got all the class in the world and all the speed in the world so he could be a Cox Plate horse.
‘’He’s definitely not short of pace.’’
Moore and O’Brien combined 10 years ago to win the Cox Plate with Galileo colt Adelaide.