Lucky Vega smashed the Gr.1 Phoenix S. field by 3.5l as a juvenile at just his third start, and the farm likely had high expectations for the son of Lope De Vega at stud. He gave them the perfect reward for their investment with his first runner in one of the season’s earliest juvenile races running away as a winner.
Ben and Ryan Foote trained 2-year-old colt Vega For Luck (NZ) won by 1.3l over the 950-metre trip for jockey Vinnie Colgan. He sat on the rail and was headed by Te Akau Racing’s Dare To Proisir (NZ) (Proisir) with 100 metres to go but dug deep to pull away from the gelding and win nicely with the fast-finishing filly Luminance (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) snagging second on the line.
Lucky Vega also ran second in the Gr.1 Middle Park S. at two, and took on the classics at three, running third in the Gr.1 English 2000 Guineas and fourth in the Irish version. Runner up in the Gr.1 St James’ Palace S., he retired to shuttle between Yulong in Victoria and the Irish National Stud where his oldest crop are yearlings.
When he retired, Yulong noted that his sire, Lope De Vega, had crossed well with Danehill (USA)-line mares, saying “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.”
And they might be onto something with Vega For Luck being the first foal of Darci Brahma (NZ) mare Badea (NZ), bringing in a line of Danehill through Darci Brahma. Owned by Sammy Ma, Vega For Luck was sold by Inglewood Stud for NZ$60,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Badea won twice in New Zealand and is a half-sister to Gr.3 Eulogy S. winner Lilikoi (NZ) (Charm Spirit {IRE}). Lucky Vega’s precocity is multiplied by the presence of Vega For Luck’s third dam, Champion 2YO Filly in Ireland and GB, Damson (IRE) (Entrepreneur {GB}). She won the G1 Phoenix S, the same race Lucky Vega won, and is the dam of Gr.2 Flying Childers S. winner Requinto (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), and the ancestress of Australian Group 1 winner and globe trotter Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) and several other Stakes winners.
