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.