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The Impact talks to Monarch Stud’s Kieran Falvey about the exquisite Vega Dior that was knocked down for A$170,000 at the recent Broodmare Sale which conducted digitally. The daughter of Lope De Vega is a full sister to Vega Magic and was one of the top 10 horses sold on the day.
Both Vega Magic and Vega Dior were bred and owned by the Daly brothers – George and Wally. Sadly, George Daly passed away in March and Vega Magic is now racing for his brother Wally, with George's wife Gill still staying in the ownership.
George Daly’s fascination with Shamardal’s bloodline was the catalyst for Admirable being served by the son of Shmardal, Lope De Vega, a union which produced Vega Magic.
Wally and George Daly picked out Starglow Express (who tasted success at Ascot as a 2YO) at a Sydney sale 14 years ago, which was the start of their Group One successes.
The A$50,000 yearling buy and George Daly’s innate breeding knowledge led the brothers to her first foal, Admirable, the dam of Vega Magic and Vega Dior.
They were both bred on Monarch Stud under the watchful eye of Kieran Falvey.
Q: Please tell us more about Vega Dior and why she is special, And about your relationship with the Daly brothers.
A: Vega Dior was bred to race just like Vega Magic. We have another 10 to 12 mares owned by Mr Daly on Monarch. He races in Western Australia but most of his horses are bred and raised here until they are ready to race. Then they get shipped over (to WA) for training.
Once they have finished racing, the successful fillies are sent back here to breed the next generation of racehorses.
Vega Dior is a beautiful mare and is in-foal to Lonhro. She is a great walker with good conformation. She is a full sister to Vega Magic who came back from a long break to win the Roma Cup (GR 3) at Ascot on Saturday.
The new owner also got another bonus with the other full brother Sirius Magic winning at Ascot on Wednesday.
Q: Please tell us about how this sale came about and what you thought about the price?
A: There was a lot of interest (after the catalogue was released) and despite the Corona situation; we had about 15 inspections on the farm. In a pre-Covid market I thought she was worth somewhere in the
Region of 150-200K so with everything that has happened in the world since you had to be happy with the price.It shows that the higher end of the market has held up well and at the same time I think
the mare’s new owner will have every chance of a decent return on their investment.
Q: What did you think of the sale?
A: It was good to see how quickly the market adapted to this format of the sale at this quality. The top end of the market held up but the mid to lower end of the market fell away quite sharply.
Q: What are your plans for the 2 part of the Easter Yearling Sale and also for the July Sales?
A: We have a nice filly from a good family which goes into the second sale that is being held on the same day as the Easter Yearling Sale – R2. She would have gone to the Magic Millions’ June sale but because of the uncertainty of open borders with Queensland we decided to send her to this one instead as the buyers from the Easter Sale will be on the ground for this sale. She is by Air Force Blue out of the More Than Ready Mare Staten Island and a half to Liberty Rock, Arrochar, Offshore Sham and the very promising NZ trained Capodanno.
Q: How has the COVID19 lockdown affected you?
Q: Although we are still 6 months out to preparing for the yearling sales, can you tell us a bit about the top 3 weanlings you currently have in the paddock? What exciting about these foals?
A: From the weanlings, we have on the paddock currently the top three are:
Q: What does the Monarch brand offer its clients?
A: Firstly I am a service provider and I believe that owners come back to us because they are happy with the level of professionalism that we provide. We have about 30 mares permanently boarding with us and we raise their progeny. We sell a small number of yearlings but most of my clients breed to race only. Often the fillies will come back and breed on.
So we have generations of families for our clients. We always talk about the stallions they should send the mares to and we look back in experiments to see what works and what does not work. We keep reevaluating and developing the family lines and improving all the time
The oversight and experience is part of the service we provide. We keep our numbers small so that we can get to know the mares and we can replicate the successes and improve on shortfalls.
Q: Please tell us about the most exciting horse you’ve bred and sold at Monarch.
A: I think I would say Vega Magic who is a multiple Group One winner and possibly a little unlucky not
To win the first running of the Everest but a close second would be Lucky Hussler who won 2 Group ones and desperately close in a number of others. Both were lovely big horses with great attitudes.