Brazilian ‘boy’ ready to move to Royal Ascot

By James Toney at Royal Ascot

Minas Gerais isn’t just on the other side of the world from Royal Ascot, it’s practically on another planet.

But the journey of Diego Dias, from a city enriched by the gold rush of Brazil in the 18th century to Ireland, then to Royal Ascot on a golden edge, is already quite a story.

And a victory with the brilliantly named Make Haste could well be one for the writers, perhaps toasted with Cachaça, not champagne. Dias’ small Curragh holding had only been licensed for four months when he landed an eye-catching winner at Glorious Goodwood last summer.

County Kildare couldn’t be more different from Dias’ hometown, but this adopted member of the Green Team loves the opportunities it offers and the welcome he has received.

A victory for his shining stable star in the Queen Mary Stakes would take him to a new level – and reward the confidence of the owners who turned down a €900,000 offer for their pride and joy, such was their confidence in the horse and Dias.

Gavin Ryan – who is still searching for his first winner at Royal Ascot – admitted he was a passenger in Make Haste’s only start, where she lived up to her name with a torrid victory at Naas. “It’s very exciting, it’s only my second year of training and we already have a horse like her, it’s hard to believe sometimes,” said Dias, whose reputation in the industry now attracts attention of the general public.

“When she came into the yard she was just a queen, she has an incredible racing spirit and she has an incredible turn of foot. Everything is in motion, she is ready and we can’t wait. She is certainly a living chance and it deserves its place among the favorites.

Dias – whose father was a trainer – was a jockey in Goiânia and Rio, riding 175 winners, before moving his life to Ireland to work for trainer Joe Quinn.

“I thought I would stay for just a year but I fell in love with this place. I feel very at home here, it’s a small town but I was accepted by everyone,” he added.

“I thought I would stay for a year or two, but I’m still here in 20 years and to be honest I have no intention of going back. I’m happy and settled and Irish racing is a pretty special thing for me. be part of.”

Dias has a growing number of supporters willing to invest in a trainer – aged just 42 – whose future looks bright, with his natural equestrian skills evident to anyone who spends time in his shop.

“Diego can train, he knows what he’s doing and when you have a guy who also sits on it, you get a good look,” said Matt Eves, co-owner of Make Haste, who was the first to glimpse the talent of the coach. from Dias five years ago.

“He has a future ahead of him, he only has a few in training, but he achieves things that few other coaches do.”

From Punchestown to Leopardstown, from Cheltenham to Royal Ascot, it will be Willie who is the last lucky one.

Cheltenham Festival wizard Willie Mullins was all smiles as Belloccio and William Buick won the Copper Horse Handicap Stakes, a tenth victory at the meeting for the Master of Closutton.

And there could be more Irish success for a more familiar name on Wednesday.

Double derby winner Auguste Rodin is the star of day two at Royal Ascot – as he prepares to take on some of Europe’s biggest middle-distance stars in the showpiece Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

The eccentric five-time Group 1 winner has already pocketed almost €5 million in prize money, but Aidan O’Brien will be the first to admit there have been deep valleys in a career of dizzying heights.

“We’ve had Prince of Wales in mind all season and he’s done well in recent weeks,” O’Brien said. “This lovely pitch is perfect for him too and we are very happy.”