Yulong Investments' Lucky Vega wins Phoenix
Second-last out in the G2 Gain Railway S., Zhang Yuesheng-owned 2-year-old Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was saving his best for the big stage with a dominant victory in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at the Curragh on Sunday for the first worldwide Group 1 winner for his owner.
Trained by Jessica Harrington, the colt tucked in behind Giorgio Vasari (US) (Air Force Blue {USA}) early in the 1200 metre race under Shane Foley closest to the stand’s side of the field. Running in second, Ventura Tormenta (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) was the first one under pressure as they entered the final 450 metres with Giorgio Vasari also coming under pressure.
Foley looked confident in his mount as they passed the 400 metre sign, giving him a few taps to find another gear. The colt required a few more taps to stay focused, but there wasn’t a need of asking for any more speed with Lucky Vega an easy 3.5l winner over Aloha Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner).
One of only two fillies in the field, Aloha Star crossed the line a nose in front of The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Ire {Ire}) however, the placings for the pair were reversed after a stewards inquiry. Power’s (GB) Law of Indices (Ire) rounded out the top four 0.5l behind that pair.
“That’s Mr Zhang’s first Group 1 winner worldwide–I’m absolutely delighted for him. He’s a nice horse going forward and Shane said he’s getting quicker,” Jessica Harrington said. “He probably needed it the last day because he had won his maiden without getting into a battle. The last day when he got into a bit of a battle it just hardened him up. We thought he was working well, but you never know until you go racing and everyone said this was a strong renewal. We’ll have to sit down and think now, but Shane said we’d probably be thinking about the [G1] Middle Park. I think he’ll get seven as well. Last year was all about the fillies, so it’s great this year to come up with a good colt.”
The race ended a good half hour for Lope De Vega (Ire), who also sired the third place finisher in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in France just a few minutes previously with Lucky Vega the 11th Group 1 winner for his sire.
Sold for €110,000 (AU$180,843) as a foal at the Goffs Ireland November Foal Sale, Lucky Vega was purchased for €175,000 ($287,705) by Yulong Investments the following summer at the Orby Yearling Sale.
He is the first stakes winner but third winner from five to race out of Queen Of Carthage (USA) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who is herself out of Grade 1 winner Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}). Satwa Queen is also a half-sister to Group 1 winner Spadoun (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}) with the family also including Group 1 winner Desert Blanc (GB) (Desert Style {Ire}), Mille Et Mille (GB) (Muhtathir {GB}) and this year’s G1 British 2,000 Guineas winner Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}).
Space Blues secures first Group 1 in Prix Maurice de Gheest
Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) went off as the favourite in Sunday’s G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday but it was his Godolphin stablemate Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who took home the victory in the 1300 metre race.
Breaking on the rail, Space Blues was among the back runners as Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) took his customary place in the front alongside Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) to lead their respective packs. With 600 metres left in the running, most of the jockeys got to work on their mounts and the battle was on with Golden Horde holding a slight advantage over the Cambridge Stud co-owned runner.
It wasn’t until the field hit the rail lined with fans in the final 100 metres that Space Blues burst through a gap between the two runners as Golden Horde started to fade and Earthlight also made his move.
The race came down to the closing strides behind Space Blues with that colt having a 0.75l margin over everyone else and Hello Youmzain winning a photo for second over the late closing Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). That rival beat out Earthlight for third by a short neck and Golden Horde rounded out a tight top five just 1.5l behind the winner.
A multiple Group winner before this race, the Charlie Appleby-trained Space Blues becomes the 43rd Group 1 winner for Dubawi (Ire).
The 4-year-old colt out of Grade 2 winner Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre {USA}) is a half-brother to UAE champion and Grade 2 winner Shuruq (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}). One of four winners from five runners out of Miss Lucifer, Shuruq is also the dam of Listed winner and this term’s Grade 1-placed Antoinette (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}).
Further back in their family is G1 British 1,000 Guineas winner Virginia Waters (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) and multiple Australian Group placed runner Alexander Of Hales (USA) (Danehill {USA}).
Art Collector continues march to Kentucky Derby
A month after bursting onto the scene in the G2 Blue Grass S., Art Collector (USA) (Bernardini {USA}) continued his march toward the first Saturday in September with an easy victory in the Ellis Park Derby as the favourite.
Racing over 1800 metres, Art Collector was happy to take the lead as Truculent (USA) (Raison D'Etat {USA}) stuck close to him early on with most of the field within only about 4l off the leader. Going into the final 500 metres a few different horses made runs at the leader with Dean Martini the closest to him but when Brian Hernandez Jr gave his mount some rein, Art Collector extended his advantage.
There was no catching him in the final 200 metres as the colt won by 3.25l over Attachment Rate (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) with Necker Island (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) 5.25l behind that runner in third for a Darley America-sired top three. The victory secured Art Collector a spot in the Kentucky Derby with the colt sitting third on the leaderboard with only one 20 point prep race left to run next weekend.
“That’s really fast for a horse,” Hernandez said of his mount. “He was able to do it within himself. He travelled like a winner the whole way. We say that all the time but being on their back we have an instinct to know how fast they’re going. That’s all I wanted to do. I just wanted to stay out of his way and let him travel. This is huge. We’re going into the Derby now with a legitimate horse. Like we said after the Blue Grass, he’s proven he’s getting better and better with each race. He showed it again today. He put everyone away. He did it all on his own and ran away from there.”
Art Collector was the second winner on the card for Bernardini (USA) as a sire with the stallion also the damsire of the Runhappy Juvenile winner early on.
Art Collector is one of two runners out of Listed winner and Grade 1-placed Distorted Legacy (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}), who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Vision And Verse (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}). Their Grade 1-placed dam Bunting (USA) (Private Account {USA}) is the matriarch of a family that includes 13 stakes horses.
She has followed in her own dam’s footsteps with that mare creating a family that includes three-time Grade 1 winner Stopchargingmaria (USA) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and Canadian champion Ginger Brew (Can) (Milwaukee Brew {Can}) among others.
Mundaye Call breaks track record in Audoban Oaks
A day after Gamine (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) impressed at Saratoga, fellow Into Mischief (USA) 3-year-old filly Mundaye Call (USA) put in another dominating performance with a track record-breaking win in the Runhappy Audoban Oaks at Ellis Park.
Racing for 10 points toward the G1 Kentucky Oaks in the 1400 metre race, Mundaye Call went straight to the lead under Florent Geroux and kept about 1l on the field throughout. Geroux looked to have plenty in hand as they entered the stretch and the filly started pulling away.
While there was no reason to find another gear, Geroux let his filly speed up in the final 200 metres to win by 7.25l over Ocean Breeze (USA) (Curlin {USA}) for her third straight victory.
“I’m not surprised [they broke the track record],” Geroux said. “The filly has been working extremely well in the morning. We’ve been very high on her. She won nicely first time for Brad at Keeneland with Joel Rosario while I was gone at Belmont Park to ride Monomoy Girl. You never expect a track record. But we expected a big race for her today.”
A US$950,000 (AU$1,327,557) purchase by OXO Equine at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Sale in 2018, the filly is out of a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Can The Man (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and Martha’s Moon (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}) out of Grade 2 winner Smolesnsk (USA) (Danzig {USA}).
The filly’s third dam is dual Grade 1 winner and bluehen mare Blush With Pride (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}) with the descendants from that mare including New Zealand Group 3 winner Ticket To Ride (NZ) (Shocking) among many others.
