G1 winning son of Frankel ‘Diego Velazquez’ to stand at Swettenham Stud

Swettenham Stud is proud to announce its 2026 stallion roster, a diverse lineup which includes elite international performance, proven commercial success, fast Australian stallions and the arrival of Frankel’s G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois winning son in Diego Velazquez.

With the Victorian breeding industry continuing to lead the way through the lucrative VOBIS scheme, Swettenham’s 2026 roster is strategically positioned to offer breeders “Quality at every price point.”

A physical masterpiece and a 2.4 million guinea yearling, Diego Velazquez brings the incomparable Frankel bloodline to Nagambie.

A precocious G2 winner at two and an exceptional G2 winner at three, he progressed to G1 glory at four with a victory in the Prix Jacques Le Marois. Joining the honour roll of champions like Dubawi and Kingman, he defeated 4-time G1 winner Notable Speech and Queen Anne Stakes winner Docklands.

Diego is the total package: elite pedigree, precocious speed, and G1 miler toughness.

““Frankel boasts an impressive 18% Stakes winners to runners record in Australia, so it’s a great privilege to provide the Australian industry with the most significant injection of Frankel blood to date.”

“To get a gauge of how nice of a horse Diego is, he was one of the most expensive Frankel yearlings ever sold, selling for the equivalent of $5,000,000 as a yearling – only the Winx filly has sold for more than that in Australia this decade.”

DIEGO VELAZQUEZ will stand for an introductory fee of $25,000+GST.

The undisputed king of Victoria continues his reign. After finishing as a Top 3 sire in the world for winners in 2025, Toronado remains the benchmark for consistency.

He is currently the #1 active sire in Hong Kong, fuelled by the HK 4yo series success of Little Paradise and Stormy Grove.

Domestically, he leads the sires table for wins, further bolstered by the immediate impact of his first crop from the $80k fee, headlined by recent G2 VRC Sires’ Produce winner Grinzinger Heart.

In 2026, the market continued to show an insatiable appetite for the Toronado progeny, he led all stallions at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale by aggregate. At the recent Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, he managed to produce an exceptionally strong median price of $400,000 (5x service fee).

Victoria’s Champion sire TORONADO will remain standing for $80,000+GST.

The blue-blooded speedster of the roster, who burst on the scene as an undefeated Group winning 2yo before winning becoming a G2 winner & multiple G1 placed at three – Lofty Strike is by Champion sire Snitzel out of a Golden Slipper winner Overreach.

Lofty Strike’s much anticipated first foals have surpassed the breeders’ lofty expectations, and as his first crop heads to the 2026 weanling and

2027 yearling sales, breeders will have the opportunity to capitalise on what we predict will be a precocious and speedy first crop.

LOFTY STRIKE will remain unchanged, standing for $20,000+GST.

The international validation for Wooded is now undeniable. Wooded’s first Northern Hemisphere crop has already produced two G1 performers, including the Prix Jean Prat winner Woodshauna.

With Australian trainers reporting that his first Southern Hemisphere crop is developing into quality 3yo types, Wooded offers world-class Wootton Bassett blood at an accessible price point with plenty of upside.

WOODED will return to Swettenham, standing for $15,000+GST.

The ultimate value upgrader – I Am Immortal continues to punch well above his service fee, highlighted by him being the most represented stallion in the 2026 $1m VOBIS Platinum Showdown.

With Saturday stars like McGaw, Athanatos, and Immortal Star keeping him in the headlines, and having covered over 100 mares last season, he remains the go-to for breeders looking for consistency from a modest investment.

I AM IMMORTAL will continue to represent excellent value, standing for $8,000+GST.