Lope de Vega’s La Barrosa lives up to billing in Group 3 strike

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin look to have another exciting prospect on their hands after La Barrosa’s eyecatching success in the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

A 750,000gns purchase from Book 1 of the sale last October, the son of Lope De Vega was tight for room at a crucial stage but pulled out enough to secure a length victory over Coventry fourth Dark Lion on just his second start.

His win was a particularly appropriate success given the juvenile is a graduate of the sales auction that sponsors the race. He was given quotes for next year’s Qpico 2,000 Guineas by a number of bookmakers, including Ladbrokes, who went 20-1.

Out of the Montjeu mare Bikini Babe, a winner and placed in six stakes races, including the Weld Park, and a relation of Strensall Stakes scorer Scottish, La Barrosa is her fifth foal and looks set for tougher tasks ahead now.

Lope De Vega has enjoyed another excellent year, including with Middle Park runner Lucky Vega, who struck in the Phoenix Stakes in August and was hugely unlucky when fifth in the National Stakes, also at the Curragh.

Among the stallion’s other headline runners this year is US Grade 1 heroine Newspaperofrecord and the Champions Juvenile Stakes scorer Cadillac, who is another quoted for next year’s Classics.

Ballylinch Stud’s stalwart currently stands for a career-high fee of €100,000.

Originally appeared in the Racing Post on September 24th 2020

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