'He's a speed horse' - drop back to a mile suits Diego Velazquez as he makes it three from three at Leopardstown

After a couple of blips Diego Velazquez is beginning to deliver on his juvenile promise and he continued his love affair with Leopardstown as he made it three wins from three at the track in the Group 2 TonyBet Solonaway Stakes for Aidan O'Brien.

The Frankel colt was a hugely promising two-year-old, landing the Champions Juvenile Stakes on this card 12 months ago before going off a 9-4 shot in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster where the testing ground scuppered his chance. He began this campaign with an encouraging fourth in the French 2,000 Guineas but then underperformed in the French Derby and the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

However, he returned to form with a bang when scorching seven lengths clear in the Meld Stakes back here in July, which led him to go off a heavily backed 10-11 favourite here despite the drop back to a mile, and there was little concern for his backers as he wheeled around the turn for home in powerful style before darting a length and a half clear with Mutasarref running on for second.

O'Brien said: "Christophe [Soumillon] rode him [in the French Guineas] and said he would win a Group 1 very quickly after it. Then it just went a little bit wrong on us. We went to the French Derby and it was the wrong thing as it was too quick. Then I went up to a mile and a half at Ascot, which was the wrong thing as well.

"He's a speed horse, he's probably a miler that will get a mile and a quarter. He's very genuine and could go to the Breeders' Cup Mile or the Cox Plate."

Green makes Impact

Green Impact looks a smart prospect for Jessica Harrington after he confirmed his maiden form with Delacroix when running out a commanding winner of the mile Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes under Shane Foley.

Owned and bred by Marc Chan, who had a magnificent day with Kinross securing a Group 2 double in the colours at Doncaster, the winner progressed from his runner-up effort on debut at the Curragh to win a maiden over course and distance in July, when he beat the reopposing Delacroix by a length and a half.

The O'Brien-trained Delacroix was heavily backed into 5-6 favouritism to reverse the form but, while the margin was reduced to half a length, the order remained the same as Green Impact satisfied odds of 5-2.

Harrington said: "We can dream all winter. He's a big horse and needs time to fill out his frame and will be really nice next year. He'll be put away for the winter and could be a Derby horse."

Green Impact (Shane Foley) wins the Champions Juvenile StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

Instinct gains deserved Group success

Trustyourinstinct gained a richly deserved Group 3 success in the TonyBet 'We're Here To Play' Stakes having been agonisingly denied the last twice, with the step up in trip seeming to work the oracle as he powered clear under Dylan Browne McMonagle for trainer Joseph O'Brien.

Owned by JP McManus, the four-year-old went hurdling earlier in the year, getting off the mark at the fourth attempt at Tramore, but has thrived on the Flat, twice finishing a narrow second in Group company before making this breakthrough.

McMonagle always had the 3-1 favourite in a handy position and he thundered home in the last furlong to defeat Kinesiology by a length and three-quarters.

"On his last two runs he's been beaten by two Leger winners in Continuous and Jan Brueghel," said O'Brien. "We weren't sure about the mile-and-a-half trip as his best runs to date have been over ten furlongs, but he got it well and deserves a big win.

"He qualifies for a lot of international options and big pots around the world in the autumn so we'll have to discuss it with Frank [Berry] and JP."

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