Lope de Vega (Ire)

Ballylinch Stud has released the fees for its five stallions, with its flagship sire Lope De Vega (Ire) receiving an increase in price to €175,000, up from €125,000, though he is set to cover a smaller number of mares in 2025. "Lope de Vega continues to prove himself as a global sire sensation," said Ballylinch Stud's managing director John O'Connor. "He has again proven his effectiveness at the very highest level with the most Group 1 winners, European Classic winners, and black-type horses of any stallion worldwide this season. His...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations include a colt out of G1 Oaks heroine Qualify. 12.48 Saint-Cloud, Mdn, €50,000, unraced 2yo, c/g, 7 1/2fT Godolphin's CUALIFICAR (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), is an Andre Fabre-trained son of G1 Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and thus kin to this year's G3 Jebel...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features a TDN Rising Star stepping up in grade. 16.53 Deauville, Group 3, €80,000, 2yo, f, 8fT SANDTRAP (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status with her impressive debut win at Salisbury last month and heads to Deauville to contest this G3 Darley Prix...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features a half-brother to G1 St Leger hero Eldar Eldrov (GB). 5.45 Kempton, Novice, £7,000, 2yo, 8f (AWT) NAVAL COMMAND (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is another key member of Godolphin's Charlie Appleby stable as a half-brother to the G1 St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi...

While the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes was robbed of The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Newmarket's feature produced a thrilling three-way go to compensate as well as a rarity in its winner with Godolphin's Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Winters Moon {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) completing the Middle Park-Dewhurst double on Saturday. Tracking the leader Seagulls Eleven (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) up the centre as the five-runner field remarkably split into two groups, the William Buick-partnered even-money favourite veered across the track late on...

NEWMARKET, UK -- A sister to Alpinista (GB)? How about one to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) or Charyn (Ire), or a brother to Hurricane Lane (Ire)? Then there are the first foals, by Dubawi (Ire) no less, of Lady Bowthorpe (GB) and Glass Slippers (GB), or the first foal from Wonderful Tonight (Fr), by Frankel (GB), with those two top stallions accounting for 10 per cent of Book 1 entries between them.  Camelot (GB) leapfrogged Dubawi on Sunday to be head of the sires' table for Europe when his daughter...

2nd-Salisbury, £10,000, Novice, 10-3, 2yo, 6f 213yT, 1:31.90, hy. CHANTILLY LACE (IRE) (f, 2, Lope De Vega {Ire}--Seeking Solace {GB} {SP-Fr}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}), introduced in this novice in which her stable's Group 1 performer Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}) began her story, was sent off the 6-4 favourite and travelled smoothly in second until finding herself in front with over two furlongs remaining. Coaxed clear from there, the half-sister to No Nay Never's G1 July Cup and G1 Middle Park Stakes-winning sire Ten Sovereigns (Ire) had a comfortable 1...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Ten Sovereigns (Ire). 14.40 Salisbury, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 6f 213yT CHANTILLY LACE (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) debuts for Ralph Beckett in this race the talent-rich stable won two years ago with the subsequent group 1 performer Remarquee...

Joseph O'Brien was the big winner on day one of the Goffs Orby Sale with the trainer coming away with a number of six-figure yearlings, including the €850,000 Blue Point (Ire) half-sister to Classic contender Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}).  Billed as one of the highlights of the sale, the sister (lot 114) to the unbeaten G2 Champagne Stakes winner was bought by European clients Agrolexica International Trading BV, who confirmed that the filly would be on her way to Owning Hill.  The sale-topping figure almost brought Tom...

A China Horse Club International-bred half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) (lot 219) brought €750,000 from Simon Mockridge on behalf of Juddmonte late in the day at Goffs. Consigned by Ballylinch Stud where his sire stands, the chestnut son of Lope De Vega (Ire) is from the same family as young sire Cotai Glory (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who won a brace of Group 3s. The colt's sister, Saffron Beach, brought 3.6 million during the Tattersalls December Sale from Najd Stud back in...

The unbeaten Lake Victoria (Ire) is now Timeform's highest-rated two-year-old filly in Europe, it was announced on Monday. The daughter of Frankel (GB) earned a Timeform rating of 119p for her impressive success in Saturday's G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket when beating Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}) by three lengths. G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who finished only fourth at Newmarket, remains the best of the rest in this division with a rating of 113. Incidentally, Hooray (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was the last filly to be...

Emulating his half-brother Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), Godolphin's Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Winters Moon {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) took a major stride forward to dominate Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Content to track the 4-5 market-leader Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) and the front-running Dash Dizzy (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the Charlie Appleby-trained 11-4 second favourite, who had been second in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes at York in August, was sent forward by William Buick to take command approaching two out and surge to...