BRAZILIAN native and Kildare-based Diego Dias caught a lot of attention when his Mansa Musa scored at Glorious Goodwood earlier this month, including that of American owners Team Valor.

The colt will run in their colours for the first time when he takes on the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes (5.10) at the Curragh today.

The son of Ten Sovereigns finished sixth at Naas on his debut but improved significantly when he downed the hot favourite Array under Rossa Ryan at the Sussex track and Dias thinks the colt has improved again.

“The horse is very well and preparation for the race has gone straightforward,” he told The Irish Field. “We’re happy with the horse and we’re looking forward to run. I think he has improved from Goodwood. After his first run, we did another piece of work with him and we knew he had improved a lot from it and the same thing has happened since he ran at Goodwood.

“It’s a Group 3, an open race, a nice race and of course it will be difficult to win.”

Dias is breeze-up consignor and only trains the horses he feels didn’t match his valuation at the sales, like Mansa Musa.

On the prospect of having his first runner for American ownership group Team Valor, Dias said: “I’m just delighted they left the horse with me. For someone like me, a new trainer starting out, to have a horse for Team Valor, it really is great. It gives you great confidence.”