Lope de Vega's Vegadaze Toughs It Out In Star Kingdom

Mark Smith - Saturday March 28

Toughened up by a recent run over 1500 metres in the Group II Ajax Stakes, the Anthony Cummings-trained Vegadaze dropped back to the 1200 metres of Saturday’s Group III Star Kingdom Stakes at Rosehill Gardens and emerged victorious.Tom Marquand gets down low on Vegadaze - image Steve Hart

With Tom Marquand finding his favourite lane in the straight, Vegadaze fought off the challenges of the Godolphin pair Manicure (Exceed And Excel) and Kementari (Lonhro).

With his first stakes win the 4yo son of Lope de Vega advances his record to 5 wins and 2 seconds from 11 starts with earnings of $419,850

“It’s nice to defeat two very nice horses prepared by (son) James,” Cummings said.

“It’s not easy to come back from 1500m to 1200m but on a testing track it’s the right time to try it and I do think this is closer to his right distance range, 1400 metres sees him right out.”

Advertisement

Vegadaze is the second foal and second winner out of the unraced Commands mare Rainy Daze who is a sister to the Listed STC Parramatta Cup winner Deltona and a three-quarter-sister to stakes-placed Jonka Tiki.Vegadaze _ Ton Marquand image Steve Hart

This is Don Storey’s famous ‘Rain” family of Been There, Rainbeam, Wicked Smile and Walk Alone.

 Rainy Daze was covered by American Pharoah (USA) last spring.

Vegadaze becomes the 67th stakes-winner for the former shuttler Lope De Vega (IRE).

Advertisment

Race Result - Star Kingdom Gr3 1200m

Rosehill Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:11.00
1
Vegadaze
- 4g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Rainy Daze (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: T Marquand 54.5
2
0.2
Manicure
- 5m Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Trim (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54.5
3
0.6
Kementari
- 5g Lonhro (AUS) x Yavanna (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 60
4
3.9
Tactical Advantage
- 6g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Above Perfection (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: N Rawiller 58
5
5.2
God Of Thunder
- 4g More Than Ready (USA) x Jolie Bay (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: B Avdulla 54
6
5.4
Villami
- 3f Foxwedge (AUS) x Galapagos Girl (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: G A Ryan Rdr: Tim Clark 54
7
6.1
River Bird
- 4m Epaulette (AUS) x Amber's Crown (AUS) (Excites (AUS))
Tnr: J C Coyle Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 53
8
6.2
Handle The Truth
- 4g Star Witness (AUS) x Assertively (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: K R Dryden Rdr: R Dolan 53.5
9
10.5
Brave Song
- 5g Your Song (AUS) x Brave Choice (AUS) (Dr Fong (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
10
11.7
Fell Swoop
- 8g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Touched In Flight (AUS) (Fasliyev (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: J Ford 57.5
11
14.7
Spanish Dream
- 5m Lope De Vega (IRE) x Daydream Express (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: W P Cave Rdr: B Spriggs 54
12
17.9
Diplomatico
- 4h Snitzel (AUS) x Top Cuban (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 54
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
Tassort Filly Too Classy at Randwick
Stakes-placed two starts back in the Listed Woodlands Stud Stakes at Scone, talented 2YO Tassort filly Wollzeile proved too classy at Randwick on Wednesday.
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.
Hong Kong Buyer Secures Top Lot June (Late) Sale at $500,000
The impact of the recent success in Hong Kong of horses sourced on Inglis Digital was in evidence today, with the top lot and the third top lot bought by Hong Kong-based owners.
Nice 2YO Winner for Vinery Value Sire
He might be the least expensive sire on the Vinery roster this spring at a fee of just $6,600, but Headwater gets his share of winners and produced a new two year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
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.
One To Watch – Randwick
After impressing on debut, the Chris Waller trained 3yo Super Seth filly Frosty Girl (NZ) took on the older mares on the Kensington track, remaining unbeaten with another stylish victory to become Breednet’s One To Watch.
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.