Change of plan as Laurens sets off for cover by Invincible Spirit

John Dance's popular six-time Group 1 winner Laurens departed Salcey Forest Stud for the Irish National Stud on Tuesday in preparation for a cover by the operation's stalwart Invincible Spirit.

The mating represents a change of direction, as Dance announced in November that the five-year-old mare's first liaison would be with successful young sire No Nay Never at Coolmore.

Haydock Sprint Cup winner Invincible Spirit is the source of 126 stakes winners, including 18 at the highest level. He is perceived to be an important sire of sires with sons Kingman, I Am Invincible and Cable Bay having flourished at stud.

The son of Green Desert is about to embark on his 18th consecutive breeding season at the Irish National Stud, with his fee set at €100,000.

Laurens, a £220,000 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale purchase, was trained by Karl Burke and won legions of fans for her brave running style, often racing prominently and digging deep in the closing stages to repel fast finishers.

Her victories included the Fillies' Mile at two, the Prix Saint-Alary, Prix de Diane, Matron Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes at three, and the Prix Rothschild at four. She also finished second in the 1,000 Guineas, Lockinge and City of York Stakes.

With Laurens being by Siyouni, her first foal will be bred on a similar cross to July Cup winner Mayson, who is by Invincible Spirit out of a mare by Siyouni's sire Pivotal.

Furthermore, Laurens is out of a mare by Cape Cross, a son of Green Desert, so the offspring will be inbred 2x4 to the late Nunnery Stud stalwart.

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