First Australian Winner for National Defense

Mark Smith - Sunday May 28

After five placegetters from seven runners, the late Widden Stud stallion National Defense (GB) spectacularly got off the mark with the debutant Peace Treaty thumping her rivals in an 1100m maiden at Ballarat on Sunday.

Ridden by Beau Mertens for Anthony and Sam Freedman, Peace Treaty gave her supporters little concern in a four-and-a-half length victory over the Impending filly Pendante with the Sir Prancealot (IRE) filly Credit Controller a short-neck back in third.

Bred by Cityview Farm, Jeff Flynn, and Rossi Biddle, Peace Treaty was a $50,000 purchase for Roll The Dice Racing / Rogers Bloodstock from the Widden Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Peace Treaty a $50,000 Inglis Premier yearling

She is the second winner from as many to race for the 3-time winning Statue Of Liberty (USA) mare Relaunch.

A half-sister to Listed stakes-winner Cavaloce (Testa Rossa), Relaunch has a yearling filly by Frosted (USA) and was covered by Hellbent last spring.

Advertisement

National Defense (GB) was a €280,000 purchase for Sun Bloodstock at the 2015 Arqana August Yearling Sale.

The son of Invincible Spirit was crowned champion two-year-old colt in France following his win in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in 2016.

The sire of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Twilight Gleaming from his first European crop, National Defense (GB), retired to the Irish National Stud in 2018. He was due to shuttle to Sun Stud the same year but did not make the trip after an injury.

His three southern hemisphere seasons yielded 125 live foals, with 79 coming from his first crop. National Defense (GB) died at Widden Stud in 2022.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ballarat Antenna Solutions Mdn 1100m

Ballarat Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:06.86
1
Peace Treaty
- 2f National Defense (GB) x Relaunch (AUS) (Statue Of Liberty (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Beau Mertens 57
2
4.5
Pendante
- 2f Impending (AUS) x Pepiniere (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: R G Symons Rdr: Declan Bates 57
3
4.7
Credit Controller
- 2f Sir Prancealot (IRE) x No Excuses Bec (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: Patrick Moloney 57
4
5.4
Cranberries
- 2f Nicconi (AUS) x Self Esteem (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: John Allen 57
5
8.2
Daring Spirit
- 2f Charm Spirit (IRE) x Daring (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: H Coffey 57
6
9.2
Tornado's Sister
- 2f Denman (AUS) x More Glory (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: J Bowditch 57
7
11.0
Hokusai
- 2f Brave Smash (JPN) x Summer Surf (AUS) (Big Brown (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jordan Childs 57
8
13.7
La Seule
- 2f Kementari (AUS) x Mithila (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Higgins 57
9
23.7
Espressiva
- 2f Bel Esprit (AUS) x Womby Princess (AUS) (Lacryma Cristi (IRE))
Tnr: G Eurell Rdr: W Egan 57
More Reading...
Five Lots Announced for Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale
Tattersalls Online, Europe’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform, will break new ground when offering for auction five lots who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown Racecourse earlier this week. The sale which takes place on 3rd – 4th September can be viewed on the Tattersalls Online website www.tattersallsonline.com.
Spring Trial Watch – Caulfield
With a plethora of Group racing for colts and geldings last weekend and fillies to take centre stage Sydney on Saturday for the Group II ATC Furious Stakes it was interesting to see a Caulfield trial on Tuesday morning that featured six stakes-winning 3YO’s.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 2
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Frankel Filly
We usually associate the Mark Walker stable with the tangerine colours of Te Akau racing, but it was John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds colours in the frame for the astute Kiwi trainer trainer at Benalla on Tuesday carried by blueblood Frankel filly Chateau Eze.
Zoustar 7YO Chasing G1 for Cambridge Stud
South Africa will tackle the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night and earlier in the day a horse named after one of their favourite sons will be vying for Group One glory down the road at Ellerslie Racecourse.
One to Watch – Ballarat
An Ole Kirk filly from a famous female family started a short priced favourite at Ballarat on Monday and duly got the cash.
Vale, G1 winning horseman Tony Dennis
A member of one of New Zealand racing’s most famous and successful families has died, with the recent passing of Tony (Anthony) Dennis, aged 86.
First Foals for Lofty Strike
One of the most interesting young stallions that we saw on the recent Victorian stud tour was at Swettenham Stud and it has not taken long for the big baldy face of Lofty Strike to find it’s way on to one of his first foals.