2023 YEARLINGS

Whilst Grunt’s first crop have made an excellent start on the track, his latest yearlings continued to impress buyers at the sales in 2023

The first Group 1-winning son of the elite European sire Lope de Vega to stand at stud in Australia, Lucky Vega was a fast and precocious juvenile from a family with high-class international racing appeal. On just his third start, he blitzed his rivals in Ireland’s premier two-year-old race, the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, beating Laws Of Indicies and St Mark’s Basilica.

With previous winners of the Phoenix Stakes including breedshapers Danehill Dancer and Johannesburg, his credentials as a stallion are top-class, and he offers Australian breeders the chance to exploit the highly successful Lope de Vega/Fastnet Rock cross that’s produced the likes of Gytrash. His foals are stamped with his athleticism and strong hip, with his first crop including produce of Group 1 winner Unforgotten alongside Miss Barley, dam of Gytrash.

“Lucky Vega was a horse that interested us greatly. From a sireline that has worked so well in Australia and shown particular affinity with the Danehill line mares, he was an outstanding racehorse himself and great physically. Lucky Vega has all the ingredients to be a successful sire.”

Scott Williamson Manager - Musk Creek Farm

Race Record

At 2: Curragh Phoenix S., Gr.1 (1200m), Naas Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden (1200m), 2d Newmarket Middle Park S., Gr.1 (1200m), 2d Curragh Railway S., Gr.2 (1200m)

At 3: 2d Royal Ascot St James’s Palace S., Gr.1 (1602m), 3d 2000 Guineas, Gr.1 (1600m), 4th Irish 2000 Guineas, Gr.1 (1600m)

1st Dam

LOPE DE VEGA (IRE)

Shamardal

Giant’s Causeway

Helsinki

Vettori

Storm Cat

Mariah’s Storm

Machiavellian

Helen Street

Machiavellian

Lady Vettori

Lady Golconda

Green Desert

Air Distingue

Kendor

Lady Sharp

Danzig

QUEEN OF CARTHAGE (USA)

Cape Cross

Park Appeal

Muhtathir

Foreign Courier

Ahonoora

Balidaress

Elmaamul

Satwa Queen

Tolga

Majmu

Irish River

Light of Realm

QUEEN OF CARTHAGE (USA), by Cape Cross (IRE). Unraced. Half-sister to IMPORTANT TIME (dam of NATIONS PRIDE), Amerindia (dam of MILITARIZE). Dam of 9 foals, 5 to race, 3 winners, inc: LUCKY VEGA (c by Lope de Vega). 2 wins. See above.

Lady Clair (f by Canford Cliffs) 3 wins-2 at 2-at 5f, 5½f, 4th York Lowther S., Gr.2.

2nd Dam

SATWA QUEEN, by Muhtathir. 6 wins from 1600m to 2000m, £27,976, €462,450, US$55,000, HK$400,000, 191,360Dhs, Longchamp Prix de l’Opéra, Gr.1, Deauville Prix Jean Romanet, Gr.2-twice, Prix de Psyché, Gr.3, Longchamp Prix Vanteaux, Gr.3, Saint-Cloud Prix Nubienne, 2d Longchamp Prix de l’Opéra, Gr.1, Royal Ascot Windsor Forest S., Gr.2, Chantilly Prix Allez France, Gr.3, Nad al Sheba Balanchine S., L. Halfsister to SPADOUN, ANBELLA. Dam of 6 foals, 5 to race, 3 winners, inc:

IMPORTANT TIME (f Oasis Dream) 3 wins from 1700m to 1850m in France and Germany, Köln Stutenpreis des Gestüts Winterhauch, L, Dam of 3 winners inc:

NATIONS PRIDE (c Teofilo) 7 wins-2 at 2-from 1600m to 2400m, £46,064, US$1,375,000, 2,605,700Dhs, to 2022-23 in GB, U.S.A. and U.A.E, Saratoga Derby, Gr.1, Belmont Jockey Club Derby, Gr.3, Meydan Dubai Millennium S., Gr.3, Newmarket S., L, 2d Belmont Derby, Gr.1, 3d Meydan Dubai Turf, Gr.1 Amerindia. Placed at 3. Dam of:

MILITARIZE (c Dundeel) 3 wins at 2, A$1,116,400, in 2022-23, ATC Sires’ Produce S., Gr.1, Champagne S., Gr.1, 3d ATC Todman S., Gr.2

3rd Dam

TOLGA, by Irish River. Placed in GB. Half-sister to FLASH OF REALM, Light Winner, Lumen Dei (dam of SIGNE DIVIN). Dam of 10 named foals, 9 to race, all winners, inc:

SATWA QUEEN (f Muhtathir) 6 wins. See above.

SPADOUN (c Kaldoun) 4 wins-2 at 2-from 1600m to 3200m, Critérium de Saint-Cloud, Gr.1, Longchamp Prix du Ranelagh, L, 2d Longchamp Prix Isonomy, L, Craon Prix du Point du Jour, L, 4th Grand Prix de Marseille, L. Sire.

ANBELLA (f Common Grounds) 2 wins at 2, Deauville Prix Roland de Chambure, L. Dam of 9 winners inc:

Masaya (f Dansili) 2 wins at 2, £193,553, Newmarket Tattersalls Millions 2YO Fillies’ Trophy, 3d Newmarket King Charles II S., L,

Warwick Eternal S., L, 4th Goodwood Prestige S., Gr.3. Dam of 5 winners inc:

GUSSY MAC (g Dark Angel) 2 wins at 2, Sandown Dragon S., L, 3d Aqueduct Gio Ponti S., L