Diego Velázquez showed nothing but courage in the Prix Jacques Le Marois

Racing in the historic Sangster silks, the Frankel colt gave Aidan O’Brien his second victory in Deauville’s prestigious contest, edging out the talented Notable Speech by just a nose

Racing wide, Diego Velázquez secured the biggest victory of his career / FRANCE-GALLOP

DEAUVILLE, Francia (Special for Turf Diario).- The Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1, 1600m, turf), sponsored for the first time by Aga Khan Studs, delivered an unforgettable spectacle this Sunday—one of those contests that will linger in memory. The finish was cinematic, with three exceptional horses battling through the final strides and crossing the wire separated by mere fractions of a second.

The hero was Diego Velázquez (Frankel), who, under the expert guidance of Christophe Soumillon, held firm over the mile in Normandy after a thrilling duel with Dancing Gemini (Camelot), finally prevailing in a more-than-200-meter battle. It seemed all over—until Notable Speech (Dubawi), trapped on the inside, found a late seam and flew in the final meters, only to lose by a nose.

The final time was 1:34.23, with the margins measured in centimeters: a nose, three-quarters of a length, and a neck. A truly historic finish.

For Soumillon, it marked his fourth victory in the Marois, following wins with Whipper (Miesque's Son, 2004), Makfi (Dubawi, 2010), and Excelebration (Exceed and Excel, 2012)—the latter also trained by Aidan O’Brien, who now celebrated his second triumph in Deauville’s premier summer contest.

“He’s a very brave horse and still green. When he got in front, he got a little distracted, but he showed all his heart. The incredible part is seeing him win in these colors—Robert Sangster’s, which marked an era in racing history. I’m really happy for Sam; this is a dream come true,” said O’Brien.

Sam Sangster, son of the legendary Robert, continues a unique family tradition, closely tied to great horses and the building of Coolmore alongside John Magnier and Vincent O’Brien. His colt now has international horizons in mind, with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup Mile as likely next targets.

Behind him, Charlie Appleby expressed satisfaction with Notable Speech, who returned to top form and will likely aim next for the Woodbine Mile (G1) in Canada, followed by the Breeders’ Cup. Meanwhile, Roger Teal praised Dancing Gemini, although he acknowledged that the firm ground played more to the winner’s advantage.

The Jacques Le Marois once again confirmed its status as a premier European event, where today’s stars write chapters that inevitably echo the sport’s history.