Irish National hosts Free Eagle breeders to show off first foals

The Irish National Stud recently hosted an event for breeders who have supported its young stallion Free Eagle.

Attendees were shown six foals from the first crop sired by the Prince of Wales's Stakes winner, including three out of mares owned by the stud itself: a half-brother to stakes winners Seeharn and Yellow Rosebud out of the Green Desert mare Nebraas; a filly out of the Aga Khan-bred Cape Cross mare Alayna; and another filly out of the winning Unbridled mare Legs Lawlor.

The assembled crowd enjoys the show on a crisp autumnal dayCredit: Caroline Norris

Also on parade were a colt out of the Ribblesdale Stakes third Uvinza, bred by Alison Ruggles; a colt out of Badr Al Badoor, a winning half-sister to Profitable, bred by Sean Coughlan; and a filly out of Velvet Star, a Galileo half-sister to Moon Ballad, bred by Sun Stud.

The assembled breeders were then given a talk by Fiona Craig of Moyglare Stud, the owner and breeder of Free Eagle, along with trainer Dermot Weld, former Irish National Stud chief executive John Osborne and the present incumbent Cathal Beale, as well as Racing Post bloodstock writer Martin Stevens.

Free Eagle covered 112 mares in his first season at the Irish National Stud last year, including 14 black-type winners and five Group winners.