Diego Velazquez prevails in Minstrel Stakes
The 11-8 favourite for the Group Two event in the hands of Ryan Moore, he was well away and always in a handy position alongside Adrian Murray's Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up California Dreamer.
Moore may have been low in the saddle inside the final quarter-mile but he had a willing ally and although the challengers were queuing up a furlong from home, it was only David Marnane's 25-1 shot East Hampton who emerged from the pack to lay down a stern challenge in the closing stages.
Diego Velazquez, however, was never headed and even though East Hampton was within a neck at the winning post, the class of the Ballydoyle colt was always keeping him on top.
O'Brien said: 'A mile is probably his trip. We were preparing him for Ascot and we had him in the stalls at Leopardstown, but he got upset and had to be withdrawn (from the Amethyst Stakes) and that upset his Ascot plan.
'I wasn't confident enough to tell Ryan to ride him as forward as he would have liked (in the Queen Anne Stakes) because he hadn't had a run. They only walked the first half of the race, so it was a non event really.
'We knew he would come forward a lot from then to today and he did well to win today over seven. He's a brave horse and Ryan gave him a good ride.
'He's a very well-made horse – powerful, strong, a great walker. Physically as a specimen he's a tank really.
'We'll go back up to a mile now for the Sussex or the Jacques le Marois, something like that.
'He'll have no problem getting back up to nine furlongs or a mile and a quarter at the end of the season.'
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Huw Jones proves a point and Finn Russell unflappable as Lions win series with record comeback
Tourists claw back 18-point deficit to take second Test at MCG Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Huw Jones had his credentials questioned this week but the Scotland player answered his critics in the best possible way as he played a central role in the British and Irish Lions' series-clinching victory over the Wallabies in the second Test in Melbourne. In what is considered to be the mecca of Australian sport, Jones scored one of the Lions' five tries in a nailbiter at the MCG. Australia led from the fourth minute until the last but Hugo Keenan had the final say, getting around Len Ikitau to score the winning try after 12 phases of patient play. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There was no panic from the men in red, no rashness or risky drop goal attempts, just a trust in the process. For Keenan, it was an extraordinary end to a gruelling tour. The Irish full-back was sick for around 12 days and reckons he lost around six kilos in that time. There was no loss of energy evident in his performance as he played the full 80 minutes and had the final say in the 29-26 victory. Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn celebrate the Lions' series victory following the 29-26 win over Australia in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. | PA It means the Lions have won the series; they lead 2-0 with a game to spare. That makes it sounds like it was straightforward but it was anything but. Last week's first Test in Brisbane was far more one-sided that the 27-19 scoreline suggested. Australia were poor but they were a different beast in Melbourne, bolstered by the return from injury of the abrasive Rob Valetini and the outstanding Will Skelton. Three Wallabies tries in seven minutes The Wallabies duo caused chaos for the Lions, getting under their skin in the first half, and the hosts led 23-5 at one point. The scored three tries in seven minutes, two of them while Tommy Freeman was in the sin-bin, and it was looking bleak for the visitors. They needed to stem the bleeding and they did it with two tries before half-time from Tom Curry and Jones. Jones - who played well in the first Test, it should be stressed - was initially left out by head coach Andy Farrell for the second game. The former Ireland coach wanted to partner Garry Ringrose with Bundee Aki in an all-Irish centre pairing. But Ringrose reported concussion symptoms, having already missed the first Test. It was a selfless act by the Leinster man and it meant a reprieve for Jones who started again at 13. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jones praises Ringrose The Glasgow Warriors player admitted it had been a turbulent week for him and he had nothing but praise for Ringrose. 'I had the initial disappointment of not being named in the squad internally,' Jones said. 'Luckily, we'd all run through the plays. So, on Thursday, when Garry pulled out, I was gutted for him, because he deserved to play. 'We've got so close over this period, all the centres have come together on this tour and we all connected really well. So for him to have to pull himself out is so tough. But, yeah, look, I got the nod, was ready to go and I'm just, just glad we got the job done today.' Huw Jones of the British & Irish Lions scores a first-half try during the second Test of the series against Australia. | Getty Images The Lions were much improved in the second half when the Aussies were without the influential Valetini, removed at the interval. The tourists' discipline was far better and tries from Tadhg Beirne and Keenan won the match and took down a few records in the process. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Records tumble at the MCG It was the biggest ever comeback in a Lions Test as the tourists hauled back the 18-point deficit. It was also a record crowd, with 97,307 inside the fabled MCG. It looked as if half of them were wearing red and they witnessed the Lions winning their first Test series since 2013. It is only their third success of the professional era and the first time they have taken a 2-0 lead since 1997. On that occasion, it was a Scot at 10 as Gregor Townsend piloted Ian McGeechan's side to victory in South Africa. This time around, Finn Russell was at the controls and delivered once again to cap off the most successful season of his storied career. A Premiership and European Challenge Cup double with Bath has been followed with a Lions series triumph. Unflappable Finn Russell At 32, Russell is at his peak. Utterly unflappable, always in the moment and invariably picking the right option. It was never more visible than in the climactic moments when he kept the Lions playing through the phases before the chance opened up for Keenan. 'I think at about 70 minutes in, we got down here [the Australian 22] and got a penalty under the posts and I was thinking if we get down here again we're probably going to have to look at the drop goal option,' said Russell. 'But we'd had some good play building up to the try at the end. I just felt we had them kind of chasing around all over the pitch so I wasn't looking for that drop kick yet. I thought we could land that killer blow as we did. It's obviously a little bit risky if you knock it on and they get that jackal but I think at that point we had a lot of momentum and we were always going to score at some point.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hugo Keenan of the British and Irish Lions celebrates after scoring the winning try during the second Test of the series against Australia. | Getty Images Russell admitted he didn't have his kicking boots on - he landed two from five - but the Lions outscored the hosts by five tries to three and that in itself made them worthy winners. It was Australia who made all the early running, though. Skelton and Valetini galvanise the Wallabies Spurred on by the returning Skelton and Valetini, they surged into a 6-0 lead with two penalties from Tom Lynagh. Skelton was late into the back of Tadhg Furlong, sparking an early flare up and Maro Itoje could be heard moaning on the ref mic. His plea to Italian whistler Andrea Piardi - 'But sir, he started it' - sounded a little desperate but it was deeds not words that brought the Lions back into the game. Dan Sheehan tapped a penalty from close range and dived over a tackle to score. It was deemed legitimate by Piardi, much to the disgust of the home team. Russell struck a post with the conversion attempt and Australia came storming back. They were outstanding in a ten-minute burst from the mid-point of the first half as the Lions conceded penalty after penalty. Aussie prop James Slipper scored from close range, Freeman was yellow carded. Two more Wallabies tries followed with Freeman in the bin. Jake Gordon, excellent at nine for the hosts, spotted a gap between the two Lions props and nipped for a fine try after a series of dominant Australian rucks. Tom Wright, also very impressive, then finished off after a brilliant break by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. 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The Lions kept probing and just about deserved their win via Keenan's late, late try. Australia complained that Jac Morgan had taken out Carlo Tizzano illegally in the build-up but replays suggested the Welshman's clearout was fair. It was a slightly contentious end to a match which wasn't always played in the best spirit but with so much at stake that was not surprising. Second Test teams and scorers Scorers: Australia: Tries: Slipper, Gordon, Wright. Cons: Lynagh. Pens: Lynagh 3. Lions: Tries: Sheehan, Curry, Jones, Beirne, Keenan. Cons: Russell 2. Yellow card: Freeman (Lions, 23min). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Australia: 15. Tom Wright; 14. Max Jorgensen, 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12. Len Ikitau, 11. Harry Potter; 10. Tom Lynagh, 9. Jake Gordon; 1. James Slipper, 2. David Porecki, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson. Replacements: 16. Billy Pollard, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Tom Robertson, 19. Jeremy Williams, 20. Langi Gleeson, 21. Carlo Tizzano, 22. Tate McDermott, 23. Ben Donaldson. Lions: 15. Hugo Keenan (Ire); 14. Tommy Freeman (Eng), 13. Huw Jones (Sco), 12. Bundee Aki (Ire), 11. James Lowe (Ire); 10. Finn Russell (Sco), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ire); 1. Andrew Porter (Ire), 2. Dan Sheehan (Ire), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ire), 4. Maro Itoje (Eng; capt), 5. Ollie Chessum (Eng), 6. Tadhg Beirne (Ire), 7. Tom Curry (Eng), 8. Jack Conan (Ire). Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher (Ire), 17. Ellis Genge (Eng), 18. Will Stuart (Eng), 19. James Ryan (Ire), 20. Jac Morgan (Wal), 21. Alex Mitchell (Eng), 22. Owen Farrell (Eng), 23. Blair Kinghorn (Sco). Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR).
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Wallabies coach Schmidt slams match officials over late call in loss to Lions
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Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
British and Irish Lions score last minute try to beat Australia and end 12 year wait
The British and Irish Lions wrapped up the series with a win over Australia in Melbourne - that came as a result of Hugo Keenan's last minute try to send the travelling fans into euphoria Hugo Keenan wrote his name in Lions folklore as Maro Itoje's men wrapped up the series with a game to play. The Ireland full-back scored in the final minute of the game at the MCG as the tourists won a dramatic game worthy of one of the sport's greatest venues. But there was drama even after Keenan had gone over with under 30 seconds left. The Wallabies claimed Jac Morgan had cleared out Carlo Tizzano illegally but ref Andrea Piardo was having none of it. Keenan's score gave the Lions the lead for the first time in a match which tested the nerves of their travelling fans but who can now head to Sydney knowing the job is done. In a magnificent Test match that showed the Aussie public rugby union is not dying in this country the Wallabies really turned it on but the Lions got over the lie just about. With the MCG rocking the Australians had led 23-5 and the game looked dead and buried after just 30 minutes with the Lions playing like they'd never seen a rugby ball. The Aussies managed to arrive at the ground 25 minutes late. The locals have been banging on about how they expected 90,000 to come to this iconic ground, so much for attention to detail. In fact it was 90,307, a record for the Lions down here, who turned up and they were treated to a game a million times better than the Brisbane bore last weekend. The Wallabies might have been late at the ground, but unlike last week, they turned up on the pitch right from the word go. It is not rocket science that when you add 24-odd stone of Will Skelton to your pack and a massive carrier like Rob Valetini you are a different proposition. Former Saracens' lock Skelton was putting it about from the off and had a ruck with Maro Itoje after he's cheap shotted Tadhg Furlong. Skelton was brought in to add bulk and niggle and he did both and with local boy Valetini they got the hosts on the front foot. It was 23-17 at half-time but only after the Lions had fought back with tries before the break from Tom Curry and Huw Jones. For most of the half it was one-way traffic with everything the Australians touched turning to Wallaby gold. Fly-half Tom Lynagh kicked a couple of early penalties before Dan Sheehan's tap to himself and dive over made it one point game. Then the Aussies cut loose like Shane Warne going through the England tail here scoring three tries in the blink of an eye. Lions wing Tommy Freeman was carded for infringing when James Slipper scored the first then, down to 14 men, the tourists completely checked out. The forwards were sluggish and massive gaps opened up allowing the Australians to run riot with scrum-half Jake Gordon walking through an AWOL defence. Then full-back Tom Wright finished off a move started in their own 22 by Max Jorgensen and carried on by Joseph Suaalii. The Lions were on the canvas and had hardly thrown a shot but got back up and started punching, finally when Curry and Jones went over. Skelton and Valetini have just come back from injury and were never going to last the pace and both were hauled off early in the second half. With that pair off Lynagh added his third penalty as the Aussies dug in but Tadhg Beirne pulled off a magnificent finish off James Lowe's pass and Finn Russell's touchline conversion made it a two-point game. Then as if the atmosphere could not get any more raucous Andy Farrell threw son Owen on off the bench on the hour to predictable jeers and cheers from the crowd but the biggest cheer was yet to come. Keenan crashed over, the TMO did his bit and the Wallabies were done, but they had played their part in an epic.
