THE best three-year-old in France in 2010 over middle distances, Lope De Vega completed the same classic double of the Poule d’Essai and the French Derby as his sire Shamardal.

A top-class performer in both his seasons in training, he has made a tremendous start to his stud career at Ballylinch, with 25 group winners in his first five seasons, among them champion two-year-old Belardo, Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Jemayel and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf victress Newspaperofrecord.

Lope De Vega made the best possible start to his two-year-old career, winning over seven furlongs at Deauville in August, followed by another success at Longchamp in September by two and a half lengths. His third and final start was in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at the Arc meeting, in which he was a close fourth to Siyouni, ahead of Dick Turpin and Beethoven.

Reappearing in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau, Lope De Vega was a close third behind Rajsaman and Siyouni, then finished fast in the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp to catch Dick Turpin close home. He was even better in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly, scoring easily by three lengths from Planteur, with Irish Derby hero Cape Blanco unplaced.

After three months rest, he was beaten only three lengths in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin, then was hampered when unplaced behind Workforce in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. In the world rankings for 2010, Lope De Vega was rated on 124, one of the best half-dozen three-year-olds in Europe.

There are already 48 blacktype winners from Lope De Vega’s first five crops and they include such stars as Australian multiple Group 1 sprinters Santa Ana Lane and Vega Magic.

Not surprisingly, Lope de Vega’s yearlings made some high prices in 2018, with 800,000gns for a filly at Newmarket and €900,000 paid by Coolmore for a colt at Deauville, while two foals sold for 500,000gns each at the December Sales.

Shamardal, the sire of Lope De Vega, was a European champion in both his seasons in training and is the best son of another great champion, Giant’s Causeway. Shamardal has had a tremendous impact at stud with 21 Group 1 stars, among them Blue Point, Mukhadram and Able Friend. Altogether, Shamardal has sired 124 stakes winners.

Lope de Vega is inbred 3x3 to champion two-year-old Machiavellian, whose son Vettori sired Lope De Vega’s dam Lady Vettori, winner of the Group 3 Prix du Calvados. Lady Vettori is dam of eight other winners, notably group stars Bal De La Rose and Lady Frankel.

LOPE DE VEGA (IRE). Top rated 3yr old in France in 2010 (9.5-10.5f.). Won four races, £1,055,611, from 7 furlongs to 1 mile 2½ furlongs, at 2 and 3 years including, Poule d’Essai des Poulains, Longchamp, Gr.1, Prix du Jockey Club, Chantilly, Gr.1, also placed third in Prix de Fontainebleau, Longchamp, Gr.3.

Retired to Stud in 2011, and sire of the winners of over 870 races, and over £16,675,413, including NEWSPAPEROFRECORD, SANTA ANA LANE, CAPLA TEMPTRESS, THE RIGHT MAN, VEGA MAGIC, BELARDO, JEMAYEL, ENDLESS DRAMA, SPANISH REEF, SPANISH WHISPER, VERY SPECIAL, FRENCH FERN, HERO LOOK, ANTONIA DE VEGA, DIVINE UNICORN, PHOENIX OF SPAIN, CANDY STORE, SOUSTRACTION, STEEL OF MADRID, NAVARRA KING, SOUTH SEAS, BLUE DE VEGA, RIDE LIKE THE WIND, BURNT SUGAR, ROYAL RAZALMA, DUKE OF HAZZARD, FELICIANA DE VEGA, FLAMING SPEAR, ISABEL DE URBINA, LIDA, LIM’S LIGHTNING, MANUELA DE VEGA, MER ET NUAGES, MIZLECKI, NATALIE’S JOY, RUBIRA, SAN DONATO, SHIP OF DREAMS, TOSEN GIFT, ZABEEL PRINCE, BAY OF POETS, GRANDEE, LOPE DE CAPIO, PARVIZ, ESKIMO POINT, FORT DEL ORO, MAN OF HIS WORD, SHE IS NO LADY, CONSORT, METEORIC, MOJO RISIN and SASSELLA.

Stands at: Ballylinch Stud, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland

Contact: John O’Connor or Nicola Griffin

Telephone: +353 56 7724217

Email: info@ballylinchstud.ie

Web: www.ballylinchstud.com

Fee: €80,000