Toughened up by a recent run over 1500 metres in the Group II Ajax Stakes, the Anthony Cummings-trained Vegadaze dropped back to the 1200 metres of Saturday’s Group III Star Kingdom Stakes at Rosehill Gardens and emerged victorious.
With Tom Marquand finding his favourite lane in the straight, Vegadaze fought off the challenges of the Godolphin pair Manicure (Exceed And Excel) and Kementari (Lonhro).
With his first stakes win the 4yo son of Lope de Vega advances his record to 5 wins and 2 seconds from 11 starts with earnings of $419,850
“It’s nice to defeat two very nice horses prepared by (son) James,” Cummings said.
“It’s not easy to come back from 1500m to 1200m but on a testing track it’s the right time to try it and I do think this is closer to his right distance range, 1400 metres sees him right out.”
Vegadaze is the second foal and second winner out of the unraced Commands mare Rainy Daze who is a sister to the Listed STC Parramatta Cup winner Deltona and a three-quarter-sister to stakes-placed Jonka Tiki.
This is Don Storey’s famous ‘Rain” family of Been There, Rainbeam, Wicked Smile and Walk Alone.
Rainy Daze was covered by American Pharoah (USA) last spring.
Vegadaze becomes the 67th stakes-winner for the former shuttler Lope De Vega (IRE).
