French classic winner shuttles to Patinack Farm

Patinack Farm has signed classic colt Lope De Vega to stand the 2011 southern hemisphere season at its Richmond Grove property in Sandy Hollow.

Lope De Vega (Ire) won the French 2000 Guineas (1600m) and French Derby (2100m) this year to emulate his own sire Shamardal who completed the double at Chantilly in 2005.  He retires with a career record of 9: 4-0-1 and earnings of 1.18 million euros.  

Lope de Vega (3c Shamardal – Champagne Glow by Saratoga Six) registered easy juvenile wins at Deauville and Longchamp last year and closed his first season with a fourth in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day.

He resumed in April with a placing in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau and subsequently swooped from a rearward spot to win the G1 French 2000 Guineas from top colt Dick Turpin.

The Andre Fabre trained colt doubled up in the Derby after taking control at the top of the straight.  He was ridden hands-and-heels by Maxime Guyon and could have extended the three-length margin if driven out.

Lope de Vega was raced by owner-breeder Dietrich von Boetticher who also campaigned Hurricane Run (Montjeu).  Runner-up to Shamardal in their edition of the French Derby, Hurricane Run has also made a successful start to his stud career.  At last count, he had sired 18 first-crop winners in Europe this year.

“Hurricane Run thrilled me with his performances but Lope de Vega stands out,” von Boetticher said this week.  “I am proud to be a member of a syndicate which is giving him the best opportunity in both hemispheres.”

Lope de Vega will stand at Ballylinch Stud in County Kilkenny for a 15,000 euros service fee before shuttling to Australia.  His dam was a G3 winner and she has also foaled G3 Prix Andre Baboin winner Bal De La Rose (Cadeaux Genereux).

“We are so excited to be standing the best performed son of Shamardal,” Patinack Farm’s Chairman Nathan Tinkler said.  “We have had enormous success racing Shamardal stock and know the breed well.”