Our praise for the 4-season shuttler Lope de Vega (USA) following the win of Phoenix Of Spain Saturday's Irish 2000 Guineas perhaps could have waited another 24 hours as his gelded son Zabeel Prince a three-quarter brother to Swettenham Stud's Puissance De Lune, toughed out a meritorious win in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp on Sunday.
It was the first win at the highest level for the Roger Varian-trained six-year-old who defeated the Deep Impact colt Study Of Man by three-quarters of a length with the Dansili 5yo Trais Fluors the same distance back in third.
The son of Lope de Vega (pictured ) was coming off a comfortable win in the Earl of Sefton at Newmarket at his seasonal debut.
That form has stacked up with runner-up Forest Ranger winning the Huxley Stakes at Chester while the third-placed Mustashry romped home in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes.
Atzeni told Sky Sports Racing: "He did well really because he stumbled coming out of the stalls and I had to ride him to get a position.
"We weren't going very fast, but I ended up behind the filly (Wild illusion) which was where I wanted to be. He travelled nicely into the race and we got a nice lead - he picked up really nicely.
"He's six now, but (owner) Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has been very patient with him and Roger (Varian) has done a great job keeping him in training.
"He was very impressive at Newmarket and the form of that race is working out great, but he'd never done it at Group 1 level so we just weren't sure what to expect."
Zabeel Prince was purchased by Charlie Gordon-Watson on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum for 325,000gns at the 2014 Tattersalls December Yearling Sale.
He is one of eight winners from as many to race out of the Unbridled's Song (USA) mare Princess Serena who is the dam of Swettenham Stud's multiple Gr II winner and multiple Gr 1-placed Puissance De Lune (IRE) and Listed Newbury Fillies' Trial Stakes winner Queen Power as well as stakes-placed, Kim Waugh-trained import, His Majesty who are all by Lope de Vega's sire Shamardal.
Princess Serena's first foal, Serna's Storm, a daughter of Statue Of Liberty (USA), was bought by Roundhill Stud for $150,000 at the 2003 Keeneland November Sale, is the dam of the Gr 1 Coronation Stakes and Gr 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Rizeena.
Zabeel Prince becomes the ninth winner at the highest level for Lope de Vega who stands at Ballylinch Stud at a fee of €80,000,
