As a six-year-old daughter of the outstanding sire Lope de Vega (IRE) and with a Group II and a pair of Group IIIs already in the bank, there must have been a bit of pressure to retire Spanish Whisper to the broodmare paddocks, particularly after two sub par runs to kickstart her campaign.
But trainer and part-owner Ken Keys retained the faith and after an improved effort when fourth to Princess Jenni in the Group II Stocks Stakes at The Valley last month, Spanish Whisper came out to claim Wednesday’s $200,000 Group III Ladies' Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Spanish Reef defeated the favourite Rondinella by a length with Fidelia a nose back in third. (image Grant Courtney)
"She's an older mare and we're not rushing to have her 100 per cent all the time for the mile plus," Keys said.
"We've been really happy with her progress and those couple of runs, she needed them."
With her fourth stakes win, Spanish Reef advances her record to 7 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third from 27 starts with earnings of $733,850.
Bred by Patinack Farm, Spanish Reef was purchased as a yearling by Keys for just $12,500 at the 2014 Patinack Dispersal.
She is the first foal of the unraced Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Reef (USA) who is a daughter of the Grade III winner Storm Dream (Catrail) who was third in the Group 1 One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket.
Sold to Willcox Bloodstock for $18,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Lemon Reef (USA) was exported after being covered by Olympic Glory (IRE) in 2015.
Spanish Reef is one of 64 stakes-winners for French Derby winner Lope de Vega (IRE) shuttled to Patinack Farm for four years (2011-14) and will be represented by Santa Ana Lane in next Saturday’s $14 million The Everest at Randwick.
