Yulong Stud have been buoyed by the arrival of International Group 1 winner Lucky Vega, who is settling into his new home in Victoria’s thoroughbred heartland ahead of the commencement of the upcoming breeding season.
“To see him in the flesh for the first time when he arrived from quarantine, I could not have been more impressed!” Said Yulong’ Chief Executive Officer, Sam Fairgray.
“With great shape and muscle, he is what broodmare owners like to see. He looks fast.” said Sam
Lucky Vega (IRE) (Lope De Vega {IRE} x Queen of Carthage {USA} (Cape Cross {IRE}) gave Yulong Investments their first ever Group 1 success when he claimed victory in the G1 Keenland Phoenix Stakes over 1200 metres at Ireland’s The Curragh in August last year.
“He won his maiden on debut then all his other starts were in Group company and six of his eight starts were at Group 1 level.
“The Group 1 Phoenix Stakes he won in Ireland is the equivalent to the Golden Slipper here, and it provided Mr Zhang his first Group 1 win after purchasing him as a yearling,” said Sam.
The impressive colt won his maiden on debut in June before finishing second in the 1200 metre G2 Railway Stakes. Following his Group 1 Phoenix Stakes victory, Lucky Vega finished a close fifth in the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes before finishing 0.5l in second behind Supremacy (Ire) in the G1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
“He’s a horse that has a lot of natural pace,” said jockey, Shane Foley, after the Phoenix S. win.
Purchased by Yulong Investments for €175,000 (AU$269,000) at the Goffs Ireland Orby Yearling Sale, Lucky Vega is one of three winners out of the Cape Cross (Ire) mare Queen Of Carthage (USA).
She is a three-quarter sister to Important Time (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), with the pair being out of G1 Prix de l’Opera winner Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}).
“He was a beautiful yearling, just as he is now: well-made, strong, precocious looking and in possession of a good pedigree. It was as easy as that,” said Yulong’s European Racing & Bloodstock Manager, Michael Donohoe.
Lucky Vega shares his stallion bloodlines with other Australian elite level gallopers including Santa Ana Lane, Gytrash and Vega Magic, Vega One.
The early reaction to Lucky Vega from Australian breeders has been positive with Yulong’s Manager of Nominations and Sales, Troy Stephens, suggesting it was hard to ignore the southern hemisphere feats of Lope De Vega during his four-year shuttling stint between 2011 and 2014.
“Lope De Vega has sired four Group 1 winners down here: Gytrash, Santa Ana Lane, Vega Magic and Vega One. Both Gytrash and Santa Ana Lane are out of Fastnet Rock mares while Vega Magic’s maternal granddam was by Danewin, so he’s certainly clicked well with Danehill and Danehill-line mares down here,” said Troy.
“Even up in the northern hemisphere, he’s worked well with the likes of Belardo, one of his first crop champion two-year-olds, and he is out of a Danehill mare himself.
“He is going to be the first Group 1-winning son of Lope De Vega to stand at stud in Australia, which is a huge thing, and breeders are pretty eager to see him and his bookings are certainly going well, so we couldn’t be happier with him.
“If his foals look like him, they will sell like hot cakes, beautifully balanced with a deep shoulder and great hind quarter. A look, book and relax decision. Breeders will make money out of this horse,” added Sam.
“I have seen offspring of stallions in the past build people new homes, such is their success. I think Lucky Vega might be a home builder. He has some physique about him and that’s without mentioning his performances on the track.”
Lucky Vega stands at Yulong Stud in 2021 for a fee of $22,000 inc GST.
Lucky Vega can be viewed at our 2021 Stallion Parade on Sunday 29th August, alongside our other stallions Alabama Express, Grunt, Tagaloa, Yulong Prince and Champion Australian sire Written Tycoon.
