By Tom Frary
Haydock's G2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks was blighted by the withdrawals of Antonia de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Dame Malliot (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), but such was the manner of victory of Waverley Racing's hot favourite Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) it may be that their resistance would have proven futile regardless. Having made all in dramatic fashion when beating the subsequent G2 Hardwicke S. scorer Fanny Logan (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the course-and-distance G3 Pinnacle S. June 7, the 1-2 market-leader was content to track the pace this time under Harry Bentley. Taking over travelling easily approaching three out, the bay was soon clear and while it looked slow-motion at the end she had a comfortable 5 1/2-length margin to spare over the outsider Makawee (Ire) (Farhh {GB}), with another six lengths back to Hereby (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). “She travelled very nicely throughout and went through the ground nicely,” Bentley said. “She's put a good bit of distance between them and she stays well. I think she's quite versatile regards ground and the [G2] Lillie Langtry [at Goodwood] could be a nice race for her.”
Manuela de Vega began last term as a live Oaks contender, having won the Listed Silver Tankard S. in style at two and she upheld that when fourth in the Epsom Classic after a second in the Listed Cheshire Oaks in May. Fifth in the G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh in July and second upped to 14 furlongs for the Lillie Langtry in August, the bay went back to Goodwood to be third in the G3 March S. before finishing runner-up in Chester's Listed Stand Cup over an extended 12 furlongs in September. Beaten a neck by Nancho (Ger) (Tai Chi {Ger}) when runner-up in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich in November, she has come back stronger this season and it may be that she is able to land a top-level contest when the ground rides like this.
Manuela de Vega is a full-sister to the G2 Gran Criterium hero Hero Look (Ire) and the dual listed winner Isabel de Urbina (Ire) and a half to the ill-fated Lincoln H. winner Auxerre (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}). Their dam is the dual listed-placed Roscoff (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}), a daughter of the listed scorer and multiple group-placed sprinter Traou Mad (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}). She is one of four black-type winners out of the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner Pont-Aven (Ire) (Try My Best), including the top-class multiple group 1-placed speedster Sainte Marine (Ire) (Kenmare {Fr}) and the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Josr Algahoud (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}). Roscoff also has a 2-year-old full-sister to Manuela de Vega to follow.
Sunday, Haydock, Britain
BET365 LANCASHIRE OAKS-G2, £52,000, Haydock, 7-5, 3yo/up, f, 11f 175yT, 2:35.71, sf.
1–MANUELA DE VEGA (IRE), 131, f, 4, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Roscoff (Ire) (MSP-Fr), by Daylami (Ire)
2nd Dam: Traou Mad (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Pont-Aven (Ire), by Try My Best
(€100,000 Ylg '17 GOFOR). O-Waverley Racing; B-Merriebelle Irish Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Harry Bentley. £29,489. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ger, 11-4-4-1, $317,455. *Full to Hero Look (Ire), Hwt. 2yo Colt-Ity, Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 7-9.5f & MGSW-Ity, $342,989; and Isabel de Urbina (Ire), MSW-Eng, $131,502. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Makawee (Ire), 131, m, 5, Farhh (GB)–Storming Sioux (GB), by Storming Home (GB). O/B-Geoff & Sandra Turnbull (IRE); T-David O'Meara. £11,180.
3–Hereby (Ire), 131, f, 4, Pivotal (GB)–Look Here (GB), by Hernando (Fr). O-J H Richmond-Watson; B-Lawn Stud (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. £5,595.
Margins: 5HF, 6, 3/4. Odds: 0.50, 28.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Cabaletta (GB), Spirit of Appin (GB). Scratched: Antonia de Vega (Ire), Dame Malliot (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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