Vega One Opens Stakes Account

Mark Smith - Saturday May 11

The three-year-old gelding Vega One has blossomed since joining the stables of Tony Gollan and his trainer has Group 1 ambitions for the son of Lope de Vega (IRE) after a dominant performance in Saturday's Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1350m) at Doomben.

He needed to get a vet clearance behind the barriers after playing up in the stalls, a habit that drew the ire of stewards when he was trained in Sydney.

Blake Shinn gave Vega One a peach of a ride and he had a handful of horse three hundred metres out.

When he let the rein out an inch, Vega One exploded away to put three and a quarter lengths from the favourite Multaja (Medaglia D'Oro) with a further two and a quarter lengths back to Mishani Hustler (Exceedingly Good) in third.


Golan believes Vega One has Group 1 ability but has a few quirks to iron out.

"He will have to get over his habit of getting his back leg up on the stalls. It is a trait he has had when I got him. They know he is going to do it," Gollan told AAP.

"I have been saying all along he is a Group horse. He is only lightly raced and would need to win an exempt race like the Fred Best Classic to make the Stradbroke field," Gollan said.

"But there also the Queensland Guineas which would suit."

It took Vega One nine starts to break his maiden but when he did he made a lot of people sit up and take notice when spreadeagling a field over 1100 metres at Doomben by upwards of nine lengths.

He then stepped up to stakes company in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben on April 20 when a solid second to Plague Stone.

A half-brother to the Group II ATC Sweet Embrace Stakes winner One More Honey (Onemorenomore), Vega One (pictured as a yearling ) was a $75,000 purchase by his former trainer John Thompson out of the Stockwell Thoroughbreds draft (on behalf of breeder Emirates Park), at the 2017 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

He is the fourth foal of the imported Distorted Humor mare One Funny Honey (USA) who is a daughter of the 2011 Group III VRC The Vanity winner Lan Kwai Fong (Bluebird).

One Funny Honey has an unraced 2yo Dream Ahead (USA) filly named Vapid and a weanling colt by Snitzel. She was covered by Fastnet Rock last spring.

Vega One becomes the 54th stakes-winner for the former Patinack Farm shuttler, Lope De Vega (IRE).

Advertisment
More Reading...
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Lope de Vega's Vega One Too Strong in MM Cup
Tony Gollan has his eyes firmly fixed on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap for Vega One after the four-year-old son of Lope de Vega captured Saturday’s $1 million Magic Millions Cup (RL) at the Gold Coast.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Thumping Win for Lope De Vega's Gytrash in Creswick Stakes
The Gordon Richard’s trained Gytrash gave Australia another reason to regret the departure of Lope De Vega (IRE) following a brilliant performance in Saturday’s Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Lope De Vega Service Fee Rises to 100,000 euros
It seems a long time ago that French Derby winner Lope de Vega (IRE) shuttled to Patinack Farm in Australia, the top class son of Shamardal now one of Europe’s most desirable stallions with Ballylinch Stud lifting his fee for 2020 to 100,000 euros.
Qatar Bloodstock's Endless Drama Wins G2 Foxbridge Plate
Fireworks were expected at Te Rapa on Saturday as several of last season’s equine stars kicked off their new spring campaigns in the Group II US Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and it was recent Group I  Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) placegetter Endless Drama who delivered with a stunning victory.