DUAL classic winner and Ballylinch Stud stallion Lope De Vega (by Shamardal) has had quite a purple patch recently.

His first-crop sons Belardo and Endless Drama were first and third in the Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (British Champions Series) at Newbury a fortnight ago, two days later his second-crop daughter Jemayel won the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary at Deauville, then Blue De Vega finished third in Saturday’s Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, and Steel Of Madrid became a new stakes winner for the stallion when successful at Newmarket that same afternoon.