Within The Law - First SW First Aussie Runner for Lucky Vega

Mark Smith - Saturday November 9

After winning with his first runner in New Zealand, Yulong Stud’s Lucky Vega (IRE) is off to the perfect start In Australia, with his daughter Within The Law dominant in the $500,000 Listed Inglis Banner (1000m) down the Flemington straight on Champions Day.

Exciting debut (image Grant Courtney)

With Ben Melham in the saddle for Bjorn Baker, Within The Law tracked down the grandstand side, finishing full of running to defeat the $500,000 I Am Invincible debutant Chisholm by lone and quarter lengths with a further one and a half lengths back to the Hanseatic filly Rohesia, who claimed the $200,000 pink ladies bonus.

“It’s great to come down here and great to win with Darby Racing, Baker said.

Advertisement

“They keep finding good two-year-olds. Of course, they’ve won the Golden Slipper (with She Will Reign) with Ben Melham aboard, so she’s another good two-year-old they’ve found. It’s a big thrill to kick off the day in style.”

“I just thought she had good fitness. She’d had two trials, and she paraded well today, so I had a little confidence in that. It was great to get off to the perfect start in a big race, and big thanks to the sponsors, Inglis.”

Ben Melham said the filly did everything right on debut.
“She’s a nice filly. Obviously, well schooled up in Sydney and made significant improvement from her first trial to her second and was beaten by a smart horse in her second trial, Melham said.

“She is very straightforward and well educated, which certainly takes them a long way. She had a good drop on them, got into a great rhythm and I felt she was always going to win. She just took a bit of persuading to get past the leader, but once she knuckled down she was pretty dominant in the finish.

Bred and consigned by Yulong to the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Within The Law was a $30,000 purchase for Darby Racing.

She is the first foal of the Dundeel mare Contract Signed, who placed in four of her eleven starts without winning.

Within The Law a $30,000 Inglis Classic yearling

Contract Signed is the granddaughter of the multiple Group II winner So Gorgeous from the family of Denise's Joy. 

Purchased in 2021 on Inglis Digital for $30,000 by Chatsworth Farm, Contract Signed has a yearling colt by Tagaloa and was covered by Written Tycoon last spring.

Within The Law is the first runner in Australia for Lucky Vega (IRE), who was off the mark in New Zealand with first runner, Vega for Luck.

The winner of the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at two, runner-up in the Middle Park Stakes and Royal Ascot St James's Palace Stakes, and third in the Two Thousand Guineas, the son of Lope de Vega stands at Yulong Stud for $16,500 this spring. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Inglis Banner RL 1000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 0:58.49
1
Within The Law
- 2f Lucky Vega (IRE) x Contract Signed (AUS) (Dundeel (NZ))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: B Melham 56
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $30,000
Seller: Yulong, Nagambie, Vic
Buyer: Darby Racing
2
1.3
Chisholm
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Snitzerland (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: C Schofield 56
I Am Invincible
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $500,000
Seller: Vinery Stud, Scone
Buyer: Kia Ora
3
3
Rohesia
- 2f Hanseatic (AUS) x Vinni Rose (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 56
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $150,000
Seller: Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre
Buyer: Lindsay Park Racing
4
3
Bubion
- 2f All Too Hard (AUS) x Granada Star (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Craig Williams 56
5
4.3
Leave No Doubt
- 2c Doubtland (AUS) x Elusive Melody (AUS) (Your Song (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Damian Lane 58
6
4.4
Grammy's Sunshine
- 2f Earthlight (IRE) x Grammys (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: H Coffey 56
7
6.9
Red Barron
- 2c Justify (USA) x Ticket To Ride (AUS) (Vancouver (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens & W Larkin Rdr: Ben Allen 58
8
7
Latin Boss
- 2c Street Boss (USA) x Latin Spirit (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M Zahra 58
9
10.7
Angelotti
- 2f Yes Yes Yes (AUS) x Botticelli Angel (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: R E Laing Rdr: L Nolen 56
10
15.2
Aliquam
- 2f Tagaloa (AUS) x So Foxy (AUS) (Foxwedge (AUS))
Tnr: L F Birchley Rdr: L Currie 56
11
22.2
Four On The Floor
- 2c Anders (AUS) x Bold Arial (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Zac Spain 58
More Reading...
Ardrossan Supporters Rewarded with Taken
The emergence of the Victorian-based Taken is another winning story for a New Zealand breeding and ownership group established to support the three-year-old’s young sire.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 24
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.
One to Watch – Wyong
The juvenile maiden at Wyong on Tuesday had some interesting runners including the highest price yearling by Maurice (Jpn) sold in 2024 and he did take the win, but it was not without drama.
Darby Racing Win $500,000 Inglis Banner
Scott Darby’s extraordinary affinity with the Classic Yearling Sale continued at Flemington today when $30,0000 bargain buy Within The Law (Lucky Vega) won the $500,000 Listed Inglis Banner.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Darby Racing Filly into Golden Slipper
Darby Racing have a happy knack for finding serious value at Inglis Classic and they certainly got that in spades when paying $30,000 for Within the Law as the Lucky Vega (IRE) filly has been on fire in the Inglis incentive races and has now earned a crack at the Golden Slipper with her determined win in the Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.