pinhooked by Stauffenberg Bloodstock and sold at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales
ICON BLING by LOPE DE VEGA cemented his status as leading contender for the 2025 Norwegian Derby with a decisive win in Thursday’s Norwegian Derby Trial over 2.160m. The colt, pinhooked by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK, is owned by Miriam & Axel Melbye’s Bling Enterprise and trained by Jan-Erik Neuroth.
Ridden by Sandro de Paiva, ICON BLING was produced late in the straight to sweep past his rivals, winning by three lengths over stablemate Zakopane, with Light Garden in third. Already the winner of the Norwegian 2000 Guineas, he has now won all four of his 2025 starts in commanding style, including a defeat of subsequent Larch Prize hero Wassim.
ICON BLING was sourced as a foal by STAUFFENBERG BLOODSTOCK at the Tattersalls December Foal Sales, prepped and later re-offered at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales, underlining the operation’s reputation for identifying and developing high-class racehorses for the international market. Thursday’s victory, worth 50,000 NOK to his connections, sets up a mouth-watering clash in the Norwegian Derby on August 24, where the extra 240 metres is not expected to trouble the colt.