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El Drama shines in Dee Stakes
The Roger Varian-trained El Drama (3 c ex Victoire Finale by Peintre Celebre) announced himself as possible candidate for next month’s Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f) at Epsom with a comfortable victory in the Dee Stakes (Listed, 1m2½f) at Chester on Thursday and also handed former Patinack Farm shuttler Lope De Vega (Shamardal) with his 81st stakes winner in the process.
The three-year-old colt finished third first-up in the Spring Cup (Listed, 7f) at Lingfield on March 6 and was last seen occupying that same position over a mile at Kempton on April 5 and he clearly thrived with the step up in trip, when beating Maximal (Galileo) by a length, while Earlswood (Pivotal) was another two and three-quarter lengths away in third.
Varian said he was confident the colt would show improvement with the step up in trip and he would now be considered for the Derby, but he might also look at the French equivalent - Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m) - for the colt.
"We thought he'd stay ten [furlongs] well and be a better horse back on grass and we're delighted to see him do today what we've always thought he was capable of. It was nice to see him reignite his reputation and his campaign.
"If he did run in the Derby there would be a question mark whether he'd get a truly-run mile and a half. You wouldn't know until you tried it, but he's not short of pace and ten furlongs might be his best trip for now. Having spoken to Sheikh Obaid, all options are open and he'd like him to be considered for the Prix du Jockey Club."
The colt was purchased by his trainer for 425,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2019 and he is one of seven winners out of the winning Peintre Celebre (Nureyev) mare Victoire Finale, making him a half-brother to Listed winner Volume (Mount Nelson) - the dam of the ill-fated 2018 National Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) winner Quorto (Dubawi).
Victoire Finale herself is out Group 1 winner Victoire Bleue (Legend Of France), making her a half-sister to Vertical Speed (Bering).
Lope De Vega’s stakes winners are headed by 12 Group 1 winners, including Australian top-flight winners Santa Ana Lane, Vega Magic and Gytrash. He is represented in the southern hemisphere by Belardo, who shuttles to Haunui Farm in New Zealand while Lucky Vega will shuttle to Yulong this year.