Diego Velazquez will make the final two starts of his career in America after his poignant Prix Jacques le Marois success in the famous Sangster silks.
Transferred into the ownership of Sam Sangster on behalf of a syndicate he heads in the days prior to the Deauville Group One, Aidan O'Brien’s son of Frankel produced a career best to deliver a nostalgic victory that harked back to the glory days of old at Ballydoyle.
Now the Diego Velazquez team have their sights set on further big-race glory, with first a trip to Keeneland for the Coolmore Turf Mile on 4 October, a race that serves as a 'win and you’re in’ for the colt’s main objective, the Breeders’ Cup Mile in early November.
Reflecting on France and looking ahead to the future, Sangster said: "It was an incredible day and I was filled by confidence by Aidan before the Marois and he ran as he said he would. Aidan said he would give everything on the track and he’s so tough and genuine.
"It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes on and wins another one now before the season is out. We’ll absolutely take him to America now and he’s a horse who will really suit the Breeders’ Cup being at Del Mar.
"We wouldn’t be waiting for Del Mar so the obvious step would be Keeneland for the race there. He’s a horse that travels and it’s a ‘win and you’re in’ for the Breeders’ Cup Mile so it ticks a lot of boxes for his programme."
Diego Velazquez’s Stateside adventure will bring the curtain down on his on-track career. He is set to join the National Stud for stallion duties in November and there is plenty of excitement building around the next stage of his journey.
"One chapter closes and the next one will start and hopefully this is a story of many chapters," continued Sangster.
"Already talking to breeders from the UK and Ireland there has been a hugely positive response to the horse and he is going to qualify for some very nice mares.
"The guys who have bought into him are also very keen to support him with some proper mares, as will I myself."
Meanwhile, stablemate The Lion In Winter (above) could be set for a quick return to France for the Prix du Moulin on 7 September.
Favourite during the off season for both the 2000 Guineas and Derby, so far his season has not gone to plan.
Beaten as an odds-on favourite in the Dante, he was also well held in the Derby before being narrowly touched off in the Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs.
He then proved disappointing again back up to a mile in the Prix Jacques le Marois when attempting to make all.
Despite that latest reversal, the son of Sea The Stars could now be set for further Group One action on the continent, with O'Brien confident a mile is his forte.
O’Brien said: "He’s good. We went in front on him and he didn’t like it.
"I’d say he’s probably a miler but he probably needs to take his time a little bit in his races.
"He could go back to France for the race over a mile, the Moulin, that could be him but we have others for it like Henri [Matisse], so it’s whether he runs with him or not, depending on what the lads want to do."
