Lucky Vega
Lope de Vega (IRE) x Queen of Carthage (USA), by Cape Cross (IRE)
2018
15.3hh
FEE: $38,500
GST inclusive
Gr.1-winning two-year-old by leading sire Lope de Vega
Bred by one of Ireland’s most respected breeders, Pat O’Kelly of Kilcarn Stud, the powerful and attractive son of Lope De Vega (IRE) is out of a Cape Cross (IRE) mare, combining the bloodlines of two of the best Southern Hemisphere shuttle stallions.
Lucky Vega won convincingly first time out over 1200 metres at Naas and was just edged out into second in the Gr.2 Railway S. over the same trip at The Curragh on his next start.
He atoned for that by blowing away his rivals in the Gr.1 Phoenix S. back over that course and distance on his third outing, storming clear to beat Royal Ascot two-year-old The Lir Jet (IRE) by 3.5l, and also future European Champion St Mark’s Basilica (FR) and Laws Of Indices (IRE). Previous winners of the race include breed-shapers Danehill Dancer (IRE) and Johannesburg (USA).
Lucky Vega really did take the eye before his seasonal reappearance in the Gr.1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, finishing a close third to multiple Gr.1 winners Poetic Flare and Master Of The Seas in one of the tightest renewals of the first British Classic.
It is not just Lucky Vega’s two-year-old talent and sprinting ability that make him hot property in Australia.
Local breeders will already be familiar with Lope De Vega’s prowess as a sire; producing Gr.1 winners Gytrash, Santa Ana Lane, Vega Magic & Vega One, as well as Gr.2 scorers and Gr.1 placegetters Spanish Reef and Spanish Whisper during the son of Shamardal’s (USA) four-year shuttling stint.
It might not have escaped Australian breeders’ attention that Lope De Vega proved to be a good foil for Danehill blood, either. Gytrash and Santa Ana Lane are both out of Fastnet Rock mares, while Vega Magic’s maternal grandam was by Danewin.
Lope De Vega and Danehill have clicked when combined in European pedigrees, too. His first-crop Champion two-year-old Belardo (IRE) is out of a mare by Danehill himself, while North American Gr.1 winners Capla Temptress (IRE) and Newspaperofrecord (IRE) are out of mares by Danehill sons Dansili (GB) and Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) respectively.
Lucky Vega’s first-crop two-year-olds made their much-anticipated debut in 2024, and like their sire, showed precocity in abundance. New Zealand-bred Vega For Luck hit the ground running, winning on his first start in October and placing twice at Stakes level.
The star of the season was however the Darby Racing filly Within The Law. Trained by Bjorn Baker, Within The Law struck on debut in the Listed Inglis Banner during Cup Week at Flemington, and went on to add two further Stakes wins, including the Gr.2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, prior to her narrow second in the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes.
The results on the track soon translated to spectacular results in the sales ring, with a new top price of $380,000 achieved for a filly out of Intricately at the 2025 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. In fact, yearlings by Lucky Vega averaged over eight-times their conception fee in 2025, a significant return for both breeders and those who invested in his weanlings.
Performance
Facts
- By the outstanding Lope de Vega, sire of top sprinters: Gytrash, Santa Ana Lane, Vega Magic & Vega One, and his only son at stud in Australia.
- From the family of dual Gr.1-winning two-year-old Militarize.
- Brilliant winner of the Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes at two, blowing his opponents away by 3 ½ lengths, and trained on at three to place in Europe's most prestigious mile contests for colts.
- Yearlings have sold up to $380,000 at the sales, averaging over eight-times their conception fee.
- Outstanding first-crop two-year-olds include Gr.2 Sweet Embrace winner and Gr.1 Champagne Stakes second Within the Law.
Race record
Age |
Runs |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | – | £185,172 |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | £135,552 |
| Totals | 8 | 2 | 3 | 1 | £320,724 |
at 2
Curragh Phoenix S., Gr.1 (1200m)
Naas Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden (1200m)
2nd Newmarket Middle Park S., Gr.1 (1200m)
2nd Curragh Railway S., Gr.2 (1200m)
at 3
2nd Royal Ascot St James’s Palace Stakes Gr.1 (1602m)
3rd Newmarket 2000 Guineas, Gr.1 (1600m)
4th Curragh Irish 2000 Guineas, Gr.1 (1600m)
Top Priced Yearlings
Media
Lucky Vega
The smarter you play, the luckier you’ll be
2020 g1 Phoenix stakes
Explosive 3.5 length victory in the G1 Phoenix Stakes for 2-year-olds
Pedigree
Lucky Vega’s Leading Progeny
WITHIN THE LAW (22f, Dundeel, Red Ransom). 3 wins from 1000m to 1200m, A$1,431,000, 1st ATC Sweet Embrace S., Gr.2, VRC Inglis Banner 2YO S. (R), L, ATC Inglis Nursery (R), L, 2nd ATC Champagne S., Gr.1, ATC Inglis 2YO Millennium (R), L, 3rd ATC Percy Sykes S., Gr.2
Vega for Luck (22c, Darci Brahma, Giant’s Causeway). Winner at 950m, A$199,076, 2nd Auckland TR Karaka 2YO Million (R), L, 3rd Auckland TR Counties Challenge S., L, Auckland TR Dunstan Horsefeeds 2YO S.
Lucky Lass (22f, Sky Mesa, Broad Brush). Winner at 1000m, A$16,800
Storm Away (22g, Street Cry, Redoute’s Choice). Placed, A$25,430, 2nd WATC PKF Perth P.
That’s Gold (22c, Sebring, Exceed and Excel). Placed, A$13,271, 3rd Waikato TR Hallmark Stud 2YO S., 4th Auckland TR Counties Challenge S., L
Zaltan (23c, Invincible Spirit, Elusive Quality). Placed, 3rd Curragh Tote Never Beaten 2YO Maiden S.
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