Multiple group 2 winner Diego Velazquez will stand at the National Stud next year after being purchased by Sam Sangster Bloodstock on behalf of a high-profile syndicate.
A winner of the Minstrel Stakes (G2) at the Curragh last month, the son of Frankel is set to run in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville Aug. 17 and he holds further group 1 entries later this year. He will sport the famous Sangster silks for the remainder of his racing career.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Diego Velazquez was a near five-length winner on his debut at 2 at the Curragh and followed that effort up with a first group win in the Champions Stakes (G2) at Leopardstown.
He began his 3-year-old campaign last year with a close-up fourth in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) and bounced back later that term to capture the Meld Stakes (G3) and Solonaway Stakes (G2), both at Leopardstown.
Sangster said: "He's a horse who leaves little to the imagination; he is the stamp of his father and a top-class racehorse to match. He's done it at group 2 level across three seasons and was classic-placed, which gives him a rare depth of form and longevity. The Jacques le Marois is the immediate target, and from there we have a number of exciting group 1 races to consider, we are in world-class hands in that respect.
"With the strength of the ownership group and the National Stud behind him, this horse has every chance of being a major success both on the track and at stud we believe he will be very well received by European breeders.
"We've been on the hunt for a horse like this for some time, and I'd like to thank the team at Coolmore for giving us the opportunity to get involved with a colt of his caliber."
The colt was bred by Epona Bloodstock and sold to M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for 2.4 million guineas at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2022.
Diego Velazquez is the 11th and final foal out of the stakes-winning Acclamation mare Sweepstake, making him a half brother to 2021 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) scorer Broome and multiple group winner and group 1-placed Point Lonsdale, both by Australia.
Further details will be announced in due course.
