Lucky Vega
Lope de Vega (IRE) x Queen of Carthage (USA), by Cape Cross (IRE)
2018
15.3hh
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.
Michael Donohue: “Lucky Vega was our pick of the Lope De Vega’s in the sale. 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.”
Donohoe continues: “He’s just been an exciting horse all along, and he’s lived up to that early promise.”
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 yearlings were presented to the Australian market in 2024, receiving wide praise from buyers for their powerful quarters and great movement. Having sold for up to seven-times their conception fee, Lucky Vega’s first crop are now in the stables of leading trainers such as Annabel Neasham, Bjorn Baker and Griffiths de Kock Racing.
Performance
Facts
- Brilliant winner of the Gr.1 Phoenix Stakes at two, blowing his opponents away by 3 ½ lengths
- Trained on at three to place in Europe's most prestigious mile contests for colts
- 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
- Outstanding first-crop two-year-olds include half-siblings to Gr.1 winner Gytrash and Gr.1-performer My Whisper, plus the second foal out of Gr.1 Australian Oaks heroine Unforgotten
Race record
Age | Runs | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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). 2 wins at 1000m, A$593,000, 1st VRC Inglis Banner 2YO S. (R), L, ATC Inglis Nursery (R), L
Vega for Luck (22c, Darci Brahma, Giant’s Causeway). Winner at 950m, A$25,716, 3rd Auckland TR Counties Challenge S., L, Auckland TR Dunstan Horsefeeds 2YO S.
That’s Gold (22c, Sebring, Exceed and Excel). Placed, A$11,637, 3rd Waikato TR Hallmark Stud 2YO S., 4th Auckland TR Counties Challenge S., L
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