Lope De Vega in French 2,000 Guineas Surprise

Lope De Vega provided legendary trainer Andre Fabre with his fifth victory in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Fr-I) when he held off Dick Turpin to take the French classic by a half-length May 16.

Owned by Dietrich Von Boetticher’s Gestut Ammerland, Lope De Vega was given a heady ride in the French equivalent of the Two Thousand Guineas by Maxime Guyon, a rising star in the French jockey colony.  Breaking from post 15, Guyon kept the son of Shamardal in the clear in the center of the course, taking command with over a furlong to run.

British invader Dick Turpin, who finished second in the StanJames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) at Newmarket, made a late bid to challenge the leader, but fell short. Shamalgan (136-1) got up for third, another 1 1/2 lengths further back.

Final time for the eight furlong contest was 1:36.10.

The big disappointment in the race was the even-money favorite Siyouni, who had captured the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Fr-I) last season for the Aga Khan. The Pivotal colt was never a factor in the Poulains, finishing a non-threatening ninth.

Lope De Vega now joins Siberian Express, Soviet Star, Vahorimix, and Clodovil on Andre Fabre’s list of Poulains winners. The victory was the first classic win for jockey Guyon.

Lope De Vega improved his overall record to three wins in five starts. Bred in Ireland by his owner, Gestut Ammerland, Lope De Vega's sire captured the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey-Club (Fr-I) in 2005. Lope De Vega is out of the stakes-winning Vettori mare, Lady Vettori, and hails from the immediate family of graded stakes winners Lady Blessington and Gotta Have Her.