A son of the all conquering Invincible Spirit, National Defense won the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Chantilly in his juvenile season and was multiple Group placed in a career of just five starts.
Purchased by Sun Bloodstock for €280,000 at the 2015 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, National Defense raced out of the powerful Criquette Head-Maarek stable where he won his first start at two by a massive six lengths.
The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere is France's most prestigious - and oldest - juvenile event and, importantly, has been a launching pad for leading sires such as Holy Roman Emperor, Tenby, Hector Protector, Green Forest, Irish River and Blushing Groom.
National Defense raced just twice at three for a Group second in the Prix Djebel, before suffering a career ending injury in the Group One Poule d'Essai des Poulains.
"We're very happy to be standing a stallion of National Defense's calibre at stud," Sun Bloodstock's managing director, Danielle Cheng, points out. "It has always been the intention of Sun Bloodstock to race and breed from the world's best bloodlines and National Defense certainly fills the bill.
"National Defense was a brilliant colt, winning a Group One at only his third outing, and allocated a Timeform rating of 118 plus. He's a smashing type too."
The Irish National Stud's CEO, Cathal Beale, concurs, also pointing to National Defense's athleticism: "He is a beautifully made individual and moulded with the same individual strength of his sire, which is a huge plus given that Invincible Spirit has sired well over 100 stakes winners from his Irish National Stud base.
"What's more, he's bred on the same Mr Prospector cross as Invincible Spirit's Group One winners Lawman, Charm Spirit and Kingman."
