Lucky Vega recorded his first winner in the northern hemisphere on Saturday when Lope Spirit got off the mark at the first time of asking in a 6-furlong maiden at Syracuse.
Trained by Salvatore Scalora, the colt travelled strongly before quickening clear in the closing stages to score by three lengths in convincing fashion.
A €15,000 purchase by his trainer at the 2024 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, Lope Spirit is the first foal out of Dundel’s Spirit, an unraced daughter of Invincible Spirit and dam of Listed winner Isaan Queen. The further family includes Gr.3 scorer Charlotte O Fraise and US stakes winner Luck Money.
The son of Lope De Vega has already made an impact with his first crop of southern hemisphere runners, headlined by Gr.2 winner and Gr.1-placed Within The Law and Vega Luck, runner-up in the rich Karaka 2YO Millions in New Zealand.