Lope de Vega (Ire)

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Zulu Kingdom at Saratoga.   Ten Sovereigns's Zulu Kingdom Best In With Anticipation The undefeated Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) made his American bow in style to take the GIII With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga by a neck on Aug. 29 (video). The Chad Brown trainee races in the silks of Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael Caruso. Ecurie Peregrine SAS...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After having his picture taken with debuting Early Adoptor (GB) Lope de Vega (IRE)) following the second race Saturday, trainer Chad Brown promptly dropped names and words of praise. "My assistant, Luis Cabrera, at Monmouth, I want to give him a lot of credit," Brown said. "He had this horse all summer. He was rained out at Monmouth a couple weeks ago and he says, 'you know, boss this is probably a Saratoga-level horse. Go ahead and try him up there.' And he was right." Indeed....

Sir Michael Stoute trainee Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Jovial {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) overcame all manner of traffic problems to attain 'TDN Rising Star' status in Friday's Sri Lanka Jewel Of Asia British EBF Maiden Stakes at Sandown. Ryan Moore's mount was well away to race in a close-up third for most of this debut. Caught in a pocket along the far-side rail in the straight, the 11-4 joint-favourite was hampered when attempting to move forward approaching the final furlong and quickened smartly once into the clear to edge...

Tattersalls Online and Inglis Digital have announced plans to collaborate on an online sale of mares covered on Southern Hemisphere time. The sale will be held on the Tattersalls Online platform and will feature as the headline session of the Tattersalls Online December Sale on December 11-12. The joint venture presents an opportunity to purchase mares that have been covered by European and American-based stallions standing to Southern Hemisphere time. Following discussions with breeders and industry participants in both hemispheres, the sale has been created to meet demand for mares...

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...