Max Vega Leger Bid Ground Dependent

Last year's G3 Zetland S. winner Max Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is pointing towards the Sept. 12 G1 St Leger, but will only take up that engagement if ground conditions are suitable, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. Max Vega beat just two home in the G1 Investec Derby, but looked a stayer in the making when second to Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. on Aug. 15 despite rider Harry Bentley dropping his whip late on.

“Max Vega will go to Doncaster, but the ground has to be soft and that is the short of it,” Beckett said. “If it comes up soft at Doncaster he will be okay and we know that the trip will be fine. He will have entries elsewhere in places like France and we will pick the one where the ground is most suitable.”

Of the colt's Geoffrey Freer effort, Beckett added, “It was a great effort and I was delighted with him. Harry dropped his stick two out and though I don't think he would have beaten Hukum, he would have finished a lot closer. The only good thing about that is it means he didn't have as hard a race.”

Beckett also provided an update on two 4-year-old daughters of Lope De Vega in his yard, Waverley Racing's Manuela De Vega (Ire) and Antonia De Vega (Ire). The former, the winner of the G3 Pinnacle S. and G2 Lancashire Oaks this summer before finishing fourth in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, has the G1 Prix Vermeille or the G1 Irish St Leger as possible targets ahead of the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Antonia De Vega, last seen winning the Listed Pontefract Castle Fillies' S. in June, is back on track after a slight setback.

“She was supposed to run in the Princess of Wales's S. at Newmarket, but she has had a problem with a splint which just held us back,” said Beckett. “She is back in training again now and she should be back next month. She is entered in plenty of races and we will see what fits best.”