Lope De Vega's Spanish Whisper Strikes in Let's Elope

Mark Smith - Sunday September 15

Seymour Bloodstock's Spanish Whisper has the race performance and pedigree to grace any broodmare paddock in the land but that has been put on hold as she strives for that elusive Group 1 victory.

The 4yo daughter of the excellent Lope de Vega (IRE) added Saturday's Group II Let's Elope Stakes at Flemington to previous Group II wins in the VRC Kewney Stakes and MataRC Breeders Stakes.

Advertisement

Settled just off the pace by Mark Zahra, Spanish Whisper struck the front inside the 200 metres to defeat Miss Siska (So You Think) by a half-length with Fidelia (Not A Single Doubt) finishing strongly along the rail to finish a nose back in third. (images Grant Courtney)


Spanish Whisper advances her record to 4 wins, 4 seconds and 1 from 14 starts with earnings of $423,502.

"She was placed beautifully by Mark Zahra in a good rhythm and she gave a good strong kick," Spanish Whisper's co-trainer Tom Dabernig said.

"Full credit to Mark Pilkington and Darren Thomas who is here today. "She was purchased in New Zealand and is really doing the job and she is definitely more mature this prep and more settled and hopefully she will go on into the spring and have a good campaign."

The Group 1 Toorak Handicap and Empire Rose Stakes are long term goals but the Group II Blazer Stakes is likely to be her next start.

Spanish Whisper crossed the Tasman to the Lindsay Park stable off the back of a third-place finish in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie.

Bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington acquired a controlling interest in Spanish Whisper for client, Darren Thomas' Seymour Bloodstock following negotiations with her breeder and part-owner, Daniel Nakhle who retained an interest along with his father Elias and Darren Brady who were all involved in the breeding of the 4yo mare.

She is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the unraced Encosta de Lago mare Cutting Remark who is a sister to Glowlamp who never earned a stakes win despite placing nine times at stakes level including the Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes and Group 1 One Thousand Guineas.

A half-sister to the Group III Hobart Cup winner Offenbach (Danehill), Cutting Remark hails from the family of the champion Rock Of Gibraltar.

Purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock for $22,000 from the 2014 Patinack Farm dispersal, Cutting Remark has a yearling filly foal by Super Easy and was covered by Savabeel last spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Qatar Bloodstock's Endless Drama Wins G2 Foxbridge Plate
Fireworks were expected at Te Rapa on Saturday as several of last season’s equine stars kicked off their new spring campaigns in the Group II US Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and it was recent Group I  Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) placegetter Endless Drama who delivered with a stunning victory.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 10
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
One to Watch – Gosford
Capitalist had a double of debut winning two year-olds at Gosford on Thursday both prepared by Peter Snowden and while the expensive colt Caesar got the job done, it was the filly that really had people talking.
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Spring racing is just around the corner and a busy set of trials at Randwick on Friday featured eight heats won by juveniles with winners including stakes horses The Playwright and Cobra Club as well as unraced youngsters by Justify (USA), I Am Invincible and Flying Artie.
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.
Thumping Win for Lope De Vega's Gytrash in Creswick Stakes
The Gordon Richard’s trained Gytrash gave Australia another reason to regret the departure of Lope De Vega (IRE) following a brilliant performance in Saturday’s Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.