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Colt hands Lope De Vega 68th stakes winner

Former Patinack Farm shuttler Lope De Vega (Shamardal) sired his 68th stakes winner on Thursday courtesy of the Andre Fabre-trained Arapaho’s (3 c ex Alzubra by Dansili) narrow win the Prix du Pont Neuf (Listed, 1400m) at ParisLongchamp. 

Having surrendered his unbeaten record the Prix Francois Boutin (Listed, 1400m) on his final start as a two-year-old, Arapaho showcased his mettle when just holding on to beat Mageva (Wootton Bassett) by a short-neck. 

Bred by Ecurie Peregrine and raced by Coolmore, the three-year-old colt is out of Listed-winning Dansili (Danehill) mare Alzubra, who is herself out of fellow Listed winner Azabara (Pivotal). 

The colt’s third dam is Danella (Highest Honor) and is a half-sister to the dam of Tatoosh (Xaar). 

Lope De Vega’s progeny is headed by ten Group 1 winners; including Santa Ana Lane, Vega Magic and Belardo, who shuttles to Haunui Farm where he will stand for a fee of NZ$10,000 (plus GST) in 2020. 

Arapaho becomes the third stakes winner for the Shamardal / Dansili cross, joining Group 1 winner Capla Temptress and Group 3 scorer Lope Y Fernandez. 

Lope De Vega stands at Ballylinch Stud for a fee of €100,000.