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Spanish Reef (2003) - Lot 75.
Breeding: Lope de Vega - Lemon Reef by Lemon Drop Kid
Number of wins: 7
Prize-money: $854,450
Vendor: Fernrigg Farm
Highest Timeform Rating: 114 – 1st 2018 Sunline Stakes
Multiple stakes scorer Spanish Reef (Lope De Vega) (Lot 75) 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 former Patinack Farm shuttler Lope De Vega (Shamardal) won the Sunline Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m), Schweppervescence Trophy (Gr 3, 1600m) in 2018 and 2019 and was also victorious in the 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.
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 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."
Meanwhile, Fernrigg Farm's Rae-Lousie Kelly said the mare had been very popular during the inspections.
"She is a big scopey mare with a big shoulder and a big hip," said Kelly. "She has a really good action and is well balanced. She was such a sound strong racehorse, which will appeal to prospective buyers.
"Being by Lope De Vega is also a positive, he was probably a big loss to Australia and he is proving to be a pretty good broodmare sire as well.
"Everybody who is coming round to inspect mares has her on the list."
