Lope De Vega's Vega Magic Eyeing Off Sydney in the Autumn

Punters found it difficult to separate the five starters in Saturday's $250,000 Group III A.J. Scahill Stakes (1400m) at Ascot but for the supporters of the Sean Casey-trained Vega Magic it was an easy watch.

Ridden by Casey's son Jake, the son of Lope De Vega began smartly and took up the early running before the 3yo Lusaha was let rip after overrracing.

When Lusaha had enough turning for home, Vega Magic took control, striding two lengths clear of Chocolate Holic (Blackfriars) with lukewarm favourite First Among Equals (Exceed And Excel). three-quarter of a length back in third.

A homebred for brothers Wally and George Daly,Vega Magic opened his stakes account in the Group III Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot on November 12 before finishing just one and a half lengths from the winner Takedown when seventh in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

Last season at three, Vega Magic had a decision over the top-class Scales Of Justice over 1200 metres at Ascot.

The highly consistent 4yo gelding advances his overall record to 9 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from14 starts with earnings of $718,400.

Casey is keen to take on the best in Sydney next autumn.

"Decisions on the horse's races next year will be made by his owners, Wally and George Daly," Casey told Perth Now.

"Personally, I think Vega Magic would be an ideal prospect for Sydney's autumn carnival.

"He has developed considerably with maturity and is now ready to finish powerfully in races over about 1600m. I'm confident he could measure up to the best Eastern States performers."

"The Winterbottom was too short for him," said Wally Daly.

"We made an error by starting him in that race. He should have instead run in the Railway Stakes over 1600m a week earlier."

Wally and George Daly are big fans of the former Patinack Farm shuttler Lope De Vega (IRE) (pictured) who emulated his sire Shamardal (USA) by winning both the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulins (French 2000 Guineas) and the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby).

The Dalys sent their Magic Albert mare Admirable to Lope De Vega (IRE) in all of his four seasons at Patinack.

Vega Magic is the first of those foals, the second, 3yo filly Vega Dior is yet to race, the third, a filly died after birth and the fourth is a yearling colt.

A winner herself over 1000 metres at Ascot, Admirable won or placed in five of her seven starts.

Her granddam, Starlight Express, is a sister to Century Miss, the 1979 Group 1 Golden Slipper heroine who is the granddam of Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Natural Blitz.

The final crop of yearlings by Lope De Vega (IRE) will be sold in 2017 with seven lots heading to the Magic Millions and eight to the Inglis Classic Yearling sale.