First winner for National Defense through Filly Of Malta in Italy

Irish National Stud stallion National Defense is making a fine start with his small first crop of juveniles as Filly Of Malta gave him a first winner in a six-furlong maiden in Italy on Saturday.

Bought for £2,500 by Scuderia Cuschieri from breeders Oghill House Stud at Part 2 of last year's Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, the filly comes from a decent US family and made no mistake on debut at Siracusa.

First Defense's only prior runner, the Pier House Stud-bred Twilight Gleaming, appeared in the US, running a creditable second for Wesley Ward in a maiden at Keeneland last month and tries again at Belmont on Sunday evening.

National Defense, a son of Invincible Spirit who landed the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, has a reported 29 foals from his first Irish crop.

He has already shuttled to Sun Stud in Australia and is standing for a €5,000 fee in Kildare this season.

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