First Two Runners Both Winners for National Defense

Due to shuttle to Widden Stud Victoria this spring, young Invincible Spirit stallion National Defense (GB) is on the board with his first two runners now both winners that include ultra-impressive filly Twilight Gleaming, a TDN Rising Star for her scintillating victory at Belmont on Sunday.

Trained by Wesley Ward for Stonestreet Stables, Twilight Gleaming was a good second on debut at Keenland last month, but switched to turf for this assignment showed her true colours with a dazzling performance that may see her compete at Royal Ascot next month.

She led under a hold and bolted away to win the five furlong contest by seven and a half lengths in a slick 56.49 seconds.

A 75,000 euro purchase from the Goffs Orby Sale, Twilight Gleaming is the second winner from Thames Pageant, an unraced Dansili daughter of stakes-winner Gold Stream that is also a full sister to a pretty handy import to Australia in Invictus Prince (GB), who was second in the 2018 Group I ATC Winx Stakes.

National Defense has now had two runners for two winners with his first winner, Filly of Malta, saluting in Italy on Saturday.

A Group I winner rated the Champion French 2YO Colt of 2016, National Defense returns to Victoria at a fee of $9,900 for his third season after covering 347 mares in his first two.