AIDAN O’BRIEN has confirmed a £2.5million Group 1-winning superstar horse who ‘had it all’ has been retired after two runs for his new owners.
The awesome Diego Velazquez, who was purchased by Sam Sangster ahead of his Jacques Le Marois victory at Deauville in August, will now be a stallion at the National Stud.
Formerly owned by Coolmore, Diego Velazquez was bought by supremo John Magnier’s son MV for the huge sum at the Tattersalls Book 1 sales in October 2022.
The son of Frankel won his first two starts for O’Brien and bagged a brace of Group 2s before his big Group 1 breakthrough.
Diego Velazquez was being touted as a potential Breeders’ Cup runner but, after finishing fifth under Frankie Dettori at Keeneland, the decision was taken to retire him.
He will stand at stud having won six of his 12 career races, earning a massive £802,240 in the process.
Sangster said: “A Group Two winner at two and three, with a very emotional Group One to his name at four, we’re incredibly proud to offer Diego Velazquez to breeders in 2026.
“Diego Velazquez has it all, a superb-looking son of Frankel from a great family, with an attitude to die for, he has all the attributes you need to be a success at stud.”
A fee will be announced at a later date.
But if his progeny go onto be successful on the track you could easily imagine it making six figures.
Ballydoyle boss O’Brien, who will this weekend pit Delacroix against Ombudsman in a belting Champion Stakes at Ascot, said: “We always thought the world of Diego Velazquez.
“He has always been a very good horse and I’m so delighted for Sam, he’s a very legitimate and desirable horse, he deserved to win his Group One.
“He’s a great model and is determined and very brave.”
While Anna Kerr, CEO of the National Stud, said Diego Velazquez already has a big book of breeders eager to see what superstars he can produce.
She said: “Diego Velazquez ticks every box for British breeders – physical, pedigree and performance.
“The market response has been hugely positive, with a lot of enquiries already.
“This horse will be given every chance to succeed – he’ll be fully supported by the partners and we’ll be buying mares for him over the coming months.”
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