naitional defense , male of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) winner 2021 Twilight Sparkle , will not return to the Irish National League for the 2022 season after sustaining an injury while on duty in Australia.
Males of the first case are noted for their feats by Twilight Gleaming, whose other notable endeavors for Wesley Ward and Stonestreet Stables include winning the listed Prix de la Vallee d’Auge and a second in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. The little girl, bought by Ben McElroy for $96,931 at the Goffs Orby’s 2020 Sale, made $637,251 from her five trips to the post.
National Defense has selected 5 winners from 15 starters so far. In addition to Twilight Gleaming, he also picked another stake performer in Red smile, who finished fourth in the August 21 Prix du Calvados (G2) in her most recent starts for Frederic Rossi and Le Haras De La Gousserie.
Irish National Stud chief executive Cathal Beale said: “Unfortunately, National Defense suffered an injury while on duty in Australia. She is recovering in good health but on veterinary advice and for good In favor of the horse, we decided we wouldn’t proceed with caution.traveling him at this point in time.
“It is an unfortunate setback that his first crop has been so stellar, but we look forward to welcoming him to the National University of Ireland to continue his Northern missions. hemisphere by 2023.”
The son of Invincible spirit was bred by Ecurie Des Monceaux and Meridian International and sold to Sun Bloodstock for €280,000 ($311.052) at the Arqana August Yearling Sale in 2015. National Defense won six lengths at the launch of Christiane Head before improved on the third Prix des Chenes (G3) as Qatar Prix easy winner Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (G1).
He also finished second behind Al Wukair in his first start in 3rd place at the Prix Djebel (G3) before ending his career running without a place in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) (G1).
Retired from the Irish Championship for the 2018 breeding season, the 7-year-old is expected to play for the upcoming season for an extra €8,000 ($8,887) fee. He has flown to Australia twice before in the 2020 and 2021 Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons.
National Defense is out of the underrated Kingmambo mare Angel Falls, a close relation to the Advisory Listed Top Scorer and half-sister to 1st Runner-up Thousand Guineas (G1) of Etihad Airways. Anna Salai (Dubai), this year’s dam Cazoo Derby (G1) and hero of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) Adayar .
