Fourth Stakes Win for Lope De Vega's Spanish Reef

Mark Smith - Wednesday October 16

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)

Spanish Reef Captures Ladies Vase

"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.

Advertisement

 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.

Advertisment

Race Result - Fdc Ladies' Day Vase Gr3 1600m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:38.05
1
Spanish Reef
- 6m Lope De Vega (IRE) x Lemon Reef (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid (USA))
Tnr: K M Keys Rdr: M Zahra 57
2
1.0
Rondinella
- 5m Ocean Park (NZ) x Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: N Rawiller 55.5
NZB Karaka Book 1 $380,000
Seller: Haunui Farm
Buyer: John Chalmers Bloodstock/Patella Bloodstock
3
1.1
Fidelia
- 4m Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Fidele (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: R D Griffiths Rdr: B Melham 55
4
1.3
One More Try
- 5m Dane Shadow (AUS) x Belzain (AUS) (Woodman (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Jamie Kah 55
5
1.6
Snogging
- 5m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Starts With A Kiss (AUS) (Umatilla (NZ))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: B Prebble 55
6
1.7
Consensus
- 8m Postponed (USA) x Kate Cross (NZ) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: S J McKee Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
7
2.7
Aristocratic Miss
- 4m Foxwedge (AUS) x Golden Pedigree (AUS) (Gold Brose (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: D Oliver 55
8
3.1
Shrouded In Mist
- 5m Exceed And Excel (AUS) x De Lago Mist (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: L Currie 55
9
3.5
Temple Of Bel
- 5m Bel Esprit (AUS) x Sadiya (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: L Nolen 55
10
4.2
Pure Scot
- 5m Purrealist (AUS) x Enthrall (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: Craig Williams 55
11
4.3
Silent Roar
- 5m Street Cry (IRE) x Zarita (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
12
6.8
Nordic Symphony
- 4m Glass Harmonium (IRE) x Vikea (NZ) (Viking Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: D Yendall 55
13
6.9
Camelle
- 4m Camelot (GB) x Viana (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: P G Carey Rdr: Beau Mertens 55
14
9.7
The Real Beel
- 4m Savabeel (AUS) x Ahna (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: D R Brideoake Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
More Reading...
Five Lots Announced for Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale
Tattersalls Online, Europe’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform, will break new ground when offering for auction five lots who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown Racecourse earlier this week. The sale which takes place on 3rd – 4th September can be viewed on the Tattersalls Online website www.tattersallsonline.com.
Zoustar 7YO Chasing G1 for Cambridge Stud
South Africa will tackle the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night and earlier in the day a horse named after one of their favourite sons will be vying for Group One glory down the road at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Waller Stable Hold the Key to Melbourne Cup
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller has 27 of the 120 entries for this year’s $10million Melbourne Cup, which equates to more than 20 per cent of the total, so it’s probably worth having a closer look at them.
First Foals for Lofty Strike
One of the most interesting young stallions that we saw on the recent Victorian stud tour was at Swettenham Stud and it has not taken long for the big baldy face of Lofty Strike to find it’s way on to one of his first foals.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, G1 winning horseman Tony Dennis
A member of one of New Zealand racing’s most famous and successful families has died, with the recent passing of Tony (Anthony) Dennis, aged 86.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 2
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Frankel Filly
We usually associate the Mark Walker stable with the tangerine colours of Te Akau racing, but it was John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds colours in the frame for the astute Kiwi trainer trainer at Benalla on Tuesday carried by blueblood Frankel filly Chateau Eze.
Spring Trial Watch – Caulfield
With a plethora of Group racing for colts and geldings last weekend and fillies to take centre stage Sydney on Saturday for the Group II ATC Furious Stakes it was interesting to see a Caulfield trial on Tuesday morning that featured six stakes-winning 3YO’s.