Well bred Diego Velazquez overcomes greenness to make winning debut

Sent off a warm 2-5f, the Aidan O'Brien trained Diego Velazquez looked like a colt that would improve hugely from the initial experience when running out a comfortable winner of the Bord Na Mona Recycling Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh.

A half-brother to Broome and Point Lonsdale, the Frankel colt showed his immaturity in the early part of the race but once Ryan Moore asked him to go and get the job done, the Ballydoyle runner showed just what he is capable of.

Having come away well, Moore tracked the pace setting Ringside Timing during the early stages before pushing his mount along to close over two furlongs out. Getting to the lead at the furlong pole, the Frankel colt impressed with how he lengthened to go clear of his field inside the last 200 yards.

Bred to appreciate further than 7f, the O'Brien trained winner can only improve from the race and should be an altogether different proposition next time.

“We had him ready to run about a month ago and he got a little injury so we had to stop and start again. He was just ready to come racing today,” said O'Brien.

“We wanted to get him out. Ryan said he was very babyish but he obviously has a massive engine. He doesn't even know what he's at yet.

“He said he only came on the bridle with 50 yards to go, he said he only realised he was racing then.

“(The blustery weather) is not ideal for a first time out two-year-old.

“We felt with him at home he could go anywhere but looking at today you'd like to give him another run somewhere before he goes for a big one.

“He was absolutely half speeding with horses (at home) and came today and didn't take hold of the bridle. That can happen first time. It happened to Paddington first time in Ascot last year, he never took a hold of the bridle.

“He's probably going to come on and learn a lot from it.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.

Paddy Power cut Diego Velasquez to 12/1(from 16) for the 2000 Guineas and went 10/1(from 14) for the Derby.