The Darley stallions recorded their second Derby winner in as many days when Shamardal’s talented son Lope de Vega romped to victory in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, just a day after Workforce (King’s Best) became the fastest Derby winner of all time at Epsom.

Settled in second position under Maxime Guyon, the Andre Fabre-trained colt took up the running entering the straight and moved clear of his rivals with consummate ease, storming to a three-length victory.

His win comes just three weeks after a sweeping victory in the Group I Poule d’Essai des Poulains (1600m) and he has now finished out of the first three just once in six starts.

This victory completes a Group 1 treble for the Darley stallions this weekend, as Champagne d’Oro became the second consecutive winner of the Acorn Stakes for Medagalia d’Oro on Saturday.

Owned and bred by Gestut Ammerland, he is out of the Group 3 winner Lady Vettori (by Vettori), also dam of another stakes winner in Bal De La Rose (by Cadeaux Genereux). Lady Vettori has been covered by Shamardal  again this year.

Shamardal, winner of the Dewhurst Sakes, St James’s Palace Stakes, French Derby and Poule d’Essai des Poulains,  returns to Australia to Darley’s Kelvinside property this spring at a fee of $66,000 (inc gst).

Tags: Darley, Group I
Permalink| Jun 7, 2010

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