Lope De Vega (IRE)
2011 Service Fee: $27,500 (inc gst, free return)
Standing at Patinack Farm,
Hunter Valley, NSW
When Lope De Vega emulated his Champion sire Shamardal by winning both the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas and Group 1 French Derby he cemented his place as the best son of Shamardal to go to stud.
A striking chestnut son of the internationally acclaimed Shamardal, Lope De Vega is his father's son in more ways than one. Bearing a likeness to his sire with a 'working horse' physical appearance, a trait Shamardal's progeny carry which seems well suited to our racing conditions- 74% winners to runners in Australia is testament to that.
Champion at two and three in Europe, Shamardal has sired 28 stakes winners (including four at Group 1 level) from only four crops of racing age.
Lope De Vega's dam, Lady Vettori commenced her career with five successive victories, including the Group 3 Prix du Calvados at two and is by French 2000 Guineas winner Vettori. His granddam is by Champion Sire and French 2000 Guineas winner Kendor and a half-sister to three stakeswinners.
Lope De Vega is inbred 3 x 3 to champion two-year-old and successful sire Machiavellian (Mr Prospector).
Race Record
At 2: Longchamp Prix Al Khor (1400m), Deauville Prix de Montaigu (1500m), 4th Longchamp Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, Gr.1 (1400m)
At 3: Chantilly Prix du Jockey Club, Gr.1 (2100m beating Planteur and Pain Perdu), Longchamp Poule d’Essai des Poulains, Gr.1 (1600m beating Dick Turpin and Shamalgan), 3d Longchamp Prix de Fontainebleau, Gr.3 (1600m to Rajsaman and Siyouni)
Annual Timeform Rating: 107p (at 3), 125 (at 4).
