ONE of the most precocious two-year-olds among Invincible Spirit’s 126 blacktype winners, National Defense was the champion juvenile of 2016 in France and the second best of that age group in Europe. Sadly his racing career was cut short by an injury in his second start in 2017.

He has been a very popular addition to the Irish National Stud’s stallions, with half of his first foals sold in 2019 fetching prices of €26,000 or more.

Trained by Criquette Head-Maarek, National Defense led all the way on his debut in the Prix de Montaigu at Deauville, coming home six lengths clear of his rivals. Although only third to Akihiro when he was asked to let others make the running in the Group 3 Prix des Chenes at Chantilly second time out, National Defense was back to his brilliant best in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (formerly the Grand Criterium) over a mile at Chantilly on Arc day. Repeating the tactics of his debut win, he again led all the way to storm home four and a half lengths ahead of the talented Salouen, who was subsequently very narrowly beaten by Cracksman and by Waldgeist in other Group 1 events.

Reappearing as a three-year-old in the Group 3 Prix Djebel, run over a mile at Maisons-Laffitte, National Defense was a close second to the high-class Al Wukair, who went on to win the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. Then the racing career of National Defense came to an untimely end when he was injured in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains, the French 2000 Guineas.

National Defense is one of 18 Group 1 winners sired by champion sprinter Invincible Spirit, a son of Green Desert who retired to the Irish National Stud in 2003. His other top-class sons include Kingman, Territories, Lawman, Shalaa, Charm Spirit, Magna Grecia, Profitable, Cable Bay and Mayson, not forgetting his brilliant daughters Moonlight Cloud and Fleeting Spirit.

Angel Falls, the dam of National Defense, is a daughter of Kingmambo, and she has produced two other listed placed winners. She is a half-sister to three blacktype winners, including Anna Salai who won the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte and was second in the Irish 1000 Guineas. This is the family of the successful stallions Helmet and Epaulette.

NATIONAL DEFENSE (GB), Bay 2014. Jt 2nd top rated 2yr old colt in Europe in 2016. Champion 2yr old colt in France in 2016. Won two races, £178,741, over 1 mile, at 2 years including, Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Grand Crit, Chantilly, Gr.1, also placed second in Prix Djebel, Maisons-Laffitte, Gr.3, and third in Prix des Chenes, Chantilly, Gr.3.

Retired to Stud in 2018, first crop now yearlings.

Stands at: Irish National Stud, Tully, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Contact: Cathal Beale, Sinead Hyland, Gary Swift, Patrick Diamond or Helen Boyce

Telephone: +353 (0) 45 521251

Email: info@irishnationalstud.ie

Web: www.irishnationalstud.ie

Fee: €8,000