First foal for Mendelssohn a filly 'very much in the image of her sire'

Grade 1 winner and record setter Mendelssohn welcomed his first foal on Tuesday night when Lilacs And Lilies foaled a filly at Brookstown Farm in Kentucky.

Bred by Judy Hicks and Kathryn Nikkel, the filly is the first foal for the half-sister to Grade 1 winner Lilacs And Lace, who is also the dam of Japan's 2017 champion two-year-old filly Lucky Lilac.

"She's a lovely quality foal, very much in the image of her sire, and with great bone," said Nikkel. "We're delighted to have a filly from the family."

Lilacs And Lilies comes from a truly international family with her granddam the four-time US Grade 1 winner Stella Madrid, who is also the great-granddam of Japanese champion Mikki Isle and Japanese Grade 1 winner Aerolithe.

A $3 million yearling, Mendelssohn proved to be brilliant on both surfaces when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at two and the UAE Derby by 18 and a half lengths in course record time at three, before finishing second in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

The five-year-old son of Scat Daddy remains at a fee of $35,000 for the 2020 breeding season.

If you enjoyed this, you should also read:

First foal for star-crossed superstar Roaring Lion is a well-bred colt

Welcoming public and professionals alike the key to Irish Stallion Trail success

Under siege Al Shaab Stud supremo tweets Donald Trump in desperate plea for help