Leopardstown Update: Tahiyra Dominates the Matron Stakes
Tahiyra Stamps Her Class on the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes
In a spectacular display of skill, Tahiyra dominated the field at Leopardstown to secure her fourth Group One victory under the guidance of Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes. Having taken a mid-season break following an impressive win at Royal Ascot’s Coronation Stakes, Tahiyra was meticulously prepared by Weld for her autumn targets.
Throughout the race, Hayes positioned Tahiyra perfectly, keeping her in contention. As they entered the final turn, she effortlessly closed in on Zarinsk with Just Beautiful as their only obstacle. With a burst of speed, she quickly overtook Paddy Twomey’s runner and crossed the finish line with ease.
Rogue Millennium, trained by Tom Clover, defied expectations with a strong second-place finish after being labeled as a 12-1 long shot. Just Beautiful narrowly missed out on second place but proved no match for Tahiyra who won comfortably as the 5-6 favorite with a length and quarter lead.
“Winning Group Ones is always special,” said Weld. “Tahiyra had already achieved remarkable victories in both the Irish Guineas and Royal Ascot races. Despite some competitors falling behind throughout her career, she continues to prove herself time and again.”
Weld added his appreciation for Leopardstown: “Leopardstown has been fortunate for me in many ways; it is important to ride this track confidently yet simply like most tracks.”
Reflecting on Tahiyra’s performance he noted: “She weighed eight to ten kilos more today than when she won at Royal Ascot. It was a joy to see Chris cruising on the outside, taking his time and gradually securing the victory. She is an exceptional filly with a bright future ahead.”
Looking ahead, Weld mentioned possible future plans: “We will take it one day at a time and assess how she recovers from this race. The Breeders’ Cup could be a possibility, and we will make a decision about keeping her in training for next year as there are many exciting opportunities awaiting.”
Hayes expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him: “When you have such opportunities presented to you, you cannot afford to miss them. To be entrusted with riding a filly like Tahiyra for connections like Moyglare Stud and team Rosewell means that I must deliver when it counts.”
Diego Velazquez Maintains Unbeaten Record
In another thrilling contest at Leopardstown’s KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, Diego Velazquez continued his unbeaten streak despite facing stiff competition from stablemate Capulet.
Purchased for an impressive 2,400,000 guineas after catching attention at Tattersalls Book One sale in October under trainer Aidan O’Brien, this Frankel colt showcased immense promise during his debut win at Curragh where he triumphed by nearly five lengths.
Sent off as the 8-15 favorite with Ryan Moore aboard to further establish his reputation in racing circles, Diego Velazquez appeared well-positioned three furlongs from home in this Group Two event.
However, Moore had to push harder as Seamie Heffernan demonstrated his strength while leading on Capulet.
“We’re thrilled,” exclaimed O’Brien. “We had high regard for the second-place horse and knew that we needed a strong competitor to push Diego Velazquez beyond his limits.”
Diego Velazquez displayed great determination, finding an extra gear when called upon. As they crossed the finish line, he held a half-length advantage over Capulet in a race reminiscent of last year’s victory by Auguste Rodin.
Coral bookmakers have set odds at 8-1 for Diego Velazquez to emulate Auguste Rodin’s success in next year’s Derby and 16-1 for the Guineas.
O’Brien shared his satisfaction with the result: “We’re very happy. The runner-up showed immense potential as well, and we believed that strong competition would help stretch Diego Velazquez.”