First two mares covered by Arc hero Waldgeist are scanned in foal

Last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Waldgeist has made the perfect start to his stallion career at Ballylinch Stud, with the first two mares he covered having been scanned in foal.

The pregnant mares are Bayja, the dam of talented sprinters New Providence and Ekhtiyaar, and the maiden Siyouni mare Barkaa, winner of the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux at Longchamp.

Ballylinch Stud managing director John O’Connor said: “Waldgeist was an exceptional racehorse and he has the pedigree, looks and athleticism to go with it.

"We've had a lot of success standing Lope De Vega in partnership with Gestüt Ammerland and I'm confident Waldgeist will continue that.

"Waldgeist will also benefit from the powerful support of his co-breeder Newsells Park and the backing of shareholders from all over Europe, which ensures that his first book will be strong on quality and quantity, giving him every chance to succeed at stud.”

Waldgeist, a Galileo three-parts brother to Prix de Malleret winner Waldlied and a half-brother exciting two-year-old Waldkonig, was sent out by Andre Fabre to win nine races, four at the highest level.

In addition to the Arc, he also won the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Prix Ganay, but his finest hour certainly came in the Longchamp showpiece, in which he beat nine Group 1 winners including Enable, Sottsass, Japan and Magical.

Waldgeist is standing his first season at a fee of €17,500.

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