Injury forces National Defense to sit out Australian shuttle trip

National Defense, a new face on the Irish National Stud roster in 2018, has been forced to sit out an intended shuttle trip to his owners' Sun Stud in Victoria due to an injury.

The development will be a bitter disappointment to Sun Stud and breeders in Australia, where National Defense's sire Invincible Spirit is held in high esteem thanks to the breeding exploits of his outstanding young son I Am Invincible.

“It’s a real blow coming this close to the start of the season,” Sun Stud’s managing director Danielle Cheng said.

“Thankfully, it’s not a career threatening injury, but National Defense’s health is paramount to us and the decision was made by leading vets in both Ireland and Australia to not take the chance of flying him at this stage.

“Not surprisingly, National Defense has been popular with Australian broodmare owners and every effort will be made to accommodate those breeders who have already booked for this spring.”

A €280,000 Arqana August yearling purchase by Sun Stud, National Defense was towards the top of the class at two, when he was sent out by Criquette Head-Maarek to record a four-and-a-half-length victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

In two runs at three his best effort was a gallant second to the top-class Al Wukair in the Prix Djebel on his seasonal bow.

He also has strong pedigree claims as a half-brother to Listed-placed Cascading out of a Kingmambo half-sister to Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up Anna Salai as well as stakes winners Advice and Iguazu Falls.

National Defense's fee at the Irish National Stud this year was €12,000 and he was pledged strong home support from Sun Stud in the form of some of their best mares.

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