Lucky Vega

Lope de Vega (IRE) x Queen of Carthage (USA), by Cape Cross (IRE)
2018
15.3hh

FEE: $16,500 inc GST

Gr.1-winning two-year-old LUCKY 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 the smart The Lir Jet (IRE) by 3.5l, also beating 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 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, he then finished a very close third.

It is not just Lucky Vega’s two-year-old talent and sprinting ability that will likely make him hot property in Australia.

Local breeders will already be familiar with Lope De Vega’s prowess as a sire, as the aforementioned Archdemus is not the only top-notcher who was conceived during the son of Shamardal’s (USA) four-year stint shuttling to Patinack Farm; there was also 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.

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.

After covering elite mares such as Unforgotten and Miss Barley, dam of Gytrash, in his first two seasons, Lucky Vega will stand for $16,500 (inc GST) in 2023.

Lucky Vega’s first Southern Hemisphere foals struck his supporters with their strength and athleticism, leading him to cover a larger book of mares in his second season at Yulong. Reports from his first crop in the Northern Hemisphere have been equally positive, and the excitement builds as his own sire continues to prove world class.

Performance

Facts

Race record

Age
Runs
1st
2nd
3rd
Earned
2522£185,172
33011£135,552
Totals8231£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 GuineasGr.1 (1600m)

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

News

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Fastnet as a broodmare sire – Lope de Vega on top
This article is an edited version that originally appeared in Thoroughbred Daily News Australia New Zealand, written by Lydia Symonds. Fresh from siring two new...
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