Now firmly established as one of Europe's top stallions with a service fee to match, Ballylinch Stud's Lope de Vega (IRE) left a fine legacy from his four seasons at stud in Australia.
It did not just rest on the shoulders of his son Santa Ana Lane on Saturday, whose stunning performance left fans gobsmacked in the $2,500,000 Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick, the Fred Kersley-trained 4yo mare Mizlecki chipped in with her fourth stakes success in the Listed Old Comrade Stakes at Ascot.
And the Fred Kersley trained mare did it in style, striding clear under Daniel Staeck to defeat Properantes (Danehill Express) by four and a quarter-lengths with Variation (War Chant) a short-head back in third.
Things were made a bit easier for Mizlecki when the favourite Tellem We're Comin unseated William Pike when leaving the saddling paddock and was scratched by stewards.
Kersley said Mizlecki has had to overcome more than her fair share of injuries.
"She's been a terrific little mare over her career," Kersley said.
"She did fracture a fetlock joint last year and she races with three spurs in a leg but despite all of those issues she's come here today and done a pretty good job."
With previous Listed wins in the WATC Sheila Gwynne Classic, WATC Raconteur Stakes and WATC Belmont Oaks, Mizlecki advances her record to 6 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $461,800.
Not bad for a filly that was sent to Kersley by Yarradale Stud's Ron Sayers after she could not find a buyer willing to shell out the $30,000 reserve at the 2016 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Mizlecki (pictured as a yearling ) is the first named foal of the Al Maher mare Miss
Things have been looking up of late with a yearling filly by Gingerbread Man and a colt foal by the same stallion before being covered by War Chant (USA) last spring.
