Diego Velazquez takes a drop in class in the Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday evening in a bid to get his season back on track.
The Ballydoyle colt comes here after a disappointing effort in the King Edward at Royal Ascot last time when he clearly didn’t give his true running on his first attempt over a mile-and-a-half.
He drops back to nine furlongs now and that looks like the obvious move with the son of Frankel, who ran well in classic company in France on his first outing this term.
It was a really good effort at Longchamp first time up this year when he was beaten less than a length in fourth behind Metropolitan in the French 2000 Guineas.
He weakened in the closing stages when stepping up to 10 furlongs in heavy ground in the Prix du Jockey Club next time and ran too bad to be true last time.
This could be an ideal trip for him now and he had his biggest win to date here, as a juvenile last year, when taking the Group Two on Irish Champions Day over a mile.
His rivals in the Group Three contest are good solid types for this level but don’t look to have the same ability as Diego Velazquez at his best.
Tarawa is the obvious danger coming here off a good win in Listed company over course and distance early last month.
The Shamardal filly had been consistent without winning at stakes level prior to that and is entitled to play a big part again.
Market moves could prove the best guide in the preceding fillies maiden where there are some beautifully-bred contenders making their debuts.
A few of these have entries for the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes, including the Juddmonte filly Swelter.
Her trainer Dermot Weld introduces a lot of his best fillies at the Dublin track and this daughter of Kingman looks very interesting.
Aidan O’Brien saddles two in the race with Ryan Moore taking the mount on the regally-bred Ecstatic.
The Lord Kanaloa filly is the first foal of classy race-mare Magic Wand, who was placed in multiple top level races before making the breakthrough down in Australia.
In the opening median sires series maiden it’s hard to look past the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Distant Seas, who ran a cracker to finish second on his debut at the Curragh after missing the kick.
SELECTION NEXT BEST
4.45: Distant Seas (Dbl) Mount Parnassus
5.15: Va Va Vroom Dignam
5.45: Alessia Fernanda Oriental Dancer
6.20: Ecstatic Butterfly Wings
6.50: Diego Velazquez (Nap) Tarawa
7.25: Thor’s Hammer Nurburgring
7.55: Vice President Declaree
8.30: Bridgehead Elzaamsan
