JOHN Velazquez has a strong chance of adding an Irish winner to his stellar CV, as the legendary US rider has nine rides booked for the three-day Irish Derby Festival.

The Puerto Rican-born jockey made his Irish racecourse debut at Naas on Wednesday, where he finished fifth aboard the Dermot Weld-trained De Janeiro in the six furlong maiden. The horse was owned by Newtown Anner Stud, whose Maurice Regan was integral to Velazquez’s Irish visit.

Velazquez dons Newtown Anner’s silks in Sunday’s opener at the Curragh, for which his Johnny Murtagh-trained mount Thor’s Hammer is currently an 8/1 shot.

Another ride favoured in the market is the Joseph O’Brien-trained Carlo Bianconi in the Ragusa Handicap (10/1), while Michael O’Callaghan’s classy sprinter Twilight Jet is currently 12/1 for the Rockingham Handicap.

Aidan O’Brien has booked Velazquez for the well-bred juvenile Bernard Shaw, who lines up in a 15-strong field in the Barronstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden on Saturday.

A half-brother to three stakes horses, the son of Into Mischief cost connections $1.8million as a yearling. Velazquez has enjoyed success with the sire, having steered Gamine to five top-flight victories and won a pair of Grade 1s aboard Authentic.