Oaks heroine Snow Fairy delivers colt foal by Frankel

Snow Fairy, the champion three-year-old filly in Europe in 2010, delivered a handsome colt by dual world champion Frankel on Saturday night, with the new arrival weighing in at a healthy 64kg.

Mother and son had their first taste of the outside world on Tuesday morning and the colt - the 226th foal born at the Irish National Stud this season - appeared ready for action at a little over 36 hours old.

Snow Fairy, trained by Ed Dunlop, was bred and raced by Cristina Patino and won six Group 1 races including both the Epsom and Irish Oaks as well as elite contests in Japan and Hong Kong.

She capped a marvellous racing career when beating Nathaniel in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, where a bronze statue of her now stands.

Snow Fairy is by Intikhab out of the winning Charnwood Forest mare Woodland Dream, a half-sister to the smart ten-furlong performer and sire Big Bad Bob, another to race in Patino's colours.

She has also produced a three-year-old Elusive Pimpernel filly named Belle De Neige and a yearling Gleneagles filly named Virgin Snow.

Snow Fairy and her foal will now return to Simmonstown Stud, where the mare boards with Neil and Virginia McGrath.

If you liked this, you should read:

Glennwood Farm team daring to dream of worldwide Classic glory

Al Shaqab's Group 1 winner Toronado posts first winner