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.”

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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).

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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
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