Foal watch: week two

FREE EAGLE

The first foal by the 2015 Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner was welcomed in to the world at Bickfield House Farm earlier this week. The bay filly is out of Al Kahina and was bred by Stephen and Gloria Seymour.

John Osborne, CEO of the Irish National Stud, said: “The success in the Sales Ring so far of Dundeel and Toronado hints that Free Eagle will produce foals in his own image – and he is a beauty! Come see for yourself.”

Free Eagle covered a strong book of mares in his debut stallion season and this is set to be the first of many exciting foals to land.

NIGHT OF THUNDER

The former QIPCO 2000 Guineas and Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes winner also welcomed his first foal this week. Born at Oghill Manor Stud – who were also celebrating their first foal of the year – the filly is a half-sister to twice Group 3 winner Sruthan.

DUE DILIGENCE

A regular runner in #ChampionsSeries races, Due Diligence was last seen competing in the Betfred Sprint Cup in Haydock back in 2015. The War Front colt also finished second in the DIamond Jubilee Stakes in 2014 and will be hoping that his progeny can go one better.

First up is a filly born at Whitsbury Manor – where the sire also stands – on January 19th out of Free Entry.

Whitsbury Stud Director Ed Harper said: “We are delighted to welcome the first foal by Due Diligence. The filly is an attractive bay, nicely marked in a similar way to her sire, and a good size for a maiden mare. We have 16 mares to foal to him this season, so we look forward to seeing a lot more of the same.”

MAQAASID

This Shadwell Stud broodmare was once seen finishing third in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas having already claimed the Queen Mary Stakes and been placed in the Cheveley Park Stakes as a two-year-old.

Her fantastic bloodlines earmarked her progeny as ones to keep an eye on, so the arrival of a bay filly on the 19th January by super sire Dubawi will ensure interest is very high.

She is the first to be born this year at Nunnery Stud and earmarks the start of what looks to be an exciting year.

THE WOW SIGNAL

He looked like a Champions Series star in waiting, but THE WOW SIGNAL was retired at the end of his two-year-old career, so can his progeny take the next step? This filly out of Sister Golightly was born last night at Haras De Bouquetot in France for Al Shaqab and already looks very cheeky!