High-class mare latest wildcard entry for Inglis’ boutique action.
Multiple stakes scorer Spanish Reef (Lope De Vega) is the latest wildcard entry for the Inglis Chairman's Sale which is due to take place online on May 8.
The six-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega (Shamardal), who will be offered as part of the Fernrigg Farm draft, won the Sunline Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m), Schweppervescence Trophy (Gr 3, 1600m) in 2018 and 2019 and was also victorious Ladies Day Vase (Gr 3, 1600m), as well as finishing third behind Melody Belle (Commands) in the Empire Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) last November.
"Spanish Reef was easily the best mare I have ever trained," trainer Ken Keys said.
"She was a genuinely top-class performer. For the record, of her last 26 starts, 24 were at Group level and she had a 50 per cent strike rate for a top 4 finish, which speaks volumes for her talent and consistency.
"To win four Group races and place in Group 1 company says plenty about her quality. It's certainly easier said than done."
The mare is out of the unraced Lemon Drop Kid (Kingmambo) mare Lemon Reef, whose other foal is also a winner.
Lemon Reef herself is out of Grade 3 winner and Group 1-placed mare Storm Dream (Catrail). Further back this is the family of Listed winner Foundation Spirit (Hernando) and Group 3-winning duo Nibbs Point (Sure Blade) and her son Border Arrow (Selkirk) who also finished third at Group 1 level on three occasions including the Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f) and 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m).
Spanish Reef will be available for inspection at Fernrigg's Richmond Grove property from Thursday, along with their other offering, stakes-winning mare Shigeru Sendan (Denman), who is in foal to Trapeze Artist (Snitzel).
"It's a privilege for the farm to be offering mares of this quality at a sale like the Chairman's," said Fernrigg Farm's Rae-Louise Kelly.
"Spanish Reef was a fantastic race mare and has all the credentials to be a top broodmare while Shigeru Sendan is a beautiful mare producing quality stock – we'll have her Merchant Navy colt foal, who is outstanding, available for inspection at the farm also."
Spanish Reef is catalogued as Lot 75, while Shigeru Sendan will be offered as Lot 11.
