National Stud celebrates arrival of remarkable first foal resembling the Strad

Bred by Wretham Stud, the chestnut filly is the offspring of Stradivarius, a highly successful racehorse who has won 18 European Group races, including three Gold Cups. Her dam is Give Me Breath, a mare sired by Bated Breath. Joe Bradley, the head of bloodstock at the stud, described the filly as a beautiful first foal for Stradivarius, noting that she already possesses her sire’s strength and athleticism. The arrival of this filly is an exciting time for everyone at the farm, with two more mares due to give birth in the coming week.

Bradley also mentioned that Stradivarius’s popularity among breeders is soaring, due to his impressive physical appearance, temperament, and walk. The stud anticipates a strong roster of mares for Stradivarius in 2024, reflecting breeders’ enthusiasm for producing progeny from him.

The owner-breeder, Bjorn Nielsen, expressed his astonishment at how closely the first foal resembles Stradivarius. The filly shares her sire’s chestnut coloration and is marked with a large white blaze on her face.

Looking ahead, the bonuses offered to breeders in 2023 for Stradivarius’s second crop will continue. Ten winners in the two-year-old category will receive a £25,000 bonus, while Group winners in Britain, Ireland, and France can earn bonuses of up to £100,000 for a Group 3 win and up to £250,000 for a Group 1 win. Stradivarius, now a ten-year-old horse sired by Sea The Stars, is available for breeding at the National Stud for a fee of £10,000 for a live foal.