Lope de Vega (Ire)

Just a handful of lots into Sunday's session, a filly by Lope De Vega (Ire) (lot 240) brought a cool €1 million from Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock. The daughter of Normandel (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) is the second seven-figure lot of the 2024 Arqana August Yearling Sale. Her dam, best known for winning the G3 Park Express Stakes, is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshall {Ire}), who raced in Hong Kong as Helene Charisma. Normandel is also a half-sister to the dam of G1...

It was worth the wait. After twice being rescheduled and finally run eight days late due to rain, the GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga stayed on the lawn and featured a breakout performance by 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (c, 4, Lope de Vega {Ire})--Zindaya, by More Than Ready), who was taking the first Grade I event of his career after winning three other graded races, all at Saratoga. As a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, the Fourstardave gives Carl Spackler a fees-paid...

Ralph Beckett trainee Matauri Bay (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Matauri Pearl {Ire}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) a 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Aunt Pearl (Ire), made a winning debut in Sunday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes at Leicester. The May-foaled bay, let go as the 2-1 favourite, registered a 1 1/2-length success from Shah (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the straight seven-furlong contest. 2nd-Leicester, £9,000, Nov, 8-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.77, g/f. MATAURI BAY (IRE) (c, 2, Lope De Vega...

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 features a full-brother to a Breeders' Cup heroine. 14.30 Leicester, Novice, £9,000, 2yo, 7fT MATAURI BAY (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) debuts for the Ralph Beckett stable which has won the last two renewals and is a significant newcomer as a full-brother to the GI Breeders' Cup...

A galaxy of well-bred potential stars featured in the release of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 catalogue on Wednesday, headed by the Frankel (GB) sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB), which had already been announced last week. The Book 1 catalogue boats 21 yearlings by Dubawi (Ire), 25 Frankels, 26 by Kingman (GB), 29 by Lope De Vega (Ire) while fellow top-notchers Sea The Stars (Ire) [22], Siyouni (Fr) [10] and Wootton Bassett (GB) [23] are similarly well-represented. The catalogue features own or half-brothers...

As a half-brother to the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes-winning sire Earthlight (Ire), the Charlie Appleby-trained Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Winters Moon {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) has a lot of baggage to carry but the way he went two-for-two at Newmarket on Friday bodes well for his future. Successfully introduced at Yarmouth last month, the 8-11 favourite was able to travel easily behind the pace throughout the early stages of this six-furlong novice before taking command two out. Pushed out by Harry Bentley...

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. Friday's Observations features a half-brother to Earthlight (Ire). 18.53 Newmarket, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 6fT SHADOW OF LIGHT (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) bids to build on his debut Yarmouth success in this race which Charlie Appleby used as a Gimcrack prep for Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) two years...

A majority interest in Qatar Prix du Jockey Club winner Look De Vega (Fr) has been purchased by Ballylinch Stud in association with Al Shaqab Racing. A son of Ballylinch sire Lope De Vega (Ire), Look De Vega is as short as 4-1 for the Prix de lArc de Triomphe and will continue his racing career in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing. He will retire to Ballylinch at the end of his racing career to stand alongside his world-famous sire.  John O'Connor, managing director of Ballylinch Stud, commented, "We...

This past week the racing has come a distant second in the minds of many when set against the tragedy that has befallen the family of racing commentator John Hunt. Such an appalling act of cruelty is impossible to contemplate, especially when it concerns someone who is so popular and respected. In any workplace there are divisions and squabbles. What unites the racing press room in Britain is the unquestionable fact that John is not only a talented professional but a thoroughly decent man; a friend to so many.  He...

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. Saturday's Observations features a son of Group 1 winner Arabian Queen (Ire). 18.15 Salisbury, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 6f 213yT ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is the fifth foal out of Jeff Smith's G1 Juddmonte International heroine Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the best so far being...

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. Friday's Observations features a filly out of G1 Hong Kong Vase heroine Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk). 14.50 Clairefontaine, Debutantes, €22,000, 3yo, f, 12fT DARYLAKHA (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) arrives at Clairefontaine for her debut 15 years on almost to the day that her dam Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk) was unveiled...

Godolphin's hitherto unraced Shadow Of Light (Ire) (Lope De Vega (Ire}--Winters Moon {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}), a homebred three-parts brother to dual Group 1-winning sire Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), shed maiden status at the first attempt with a one-length victory in Thursday's Weatherbys EBF Maiden Stakes at Great Yarmouth. 2nd-Great Yarmouth, £9,950, Mdn, 7-4, 2yo, 6f 3yT, 1:13.60, gd. SHADOW OF LIGHT (GB) (c, 2, Lope De Vega {Ire}--Winters Moon {Ire} {G1SP-Eng}, by New Approach {Ire}) broke on the front end and accepted a lead in fourth after the initial...