The popular and record-breaking racemare Quevega has had her first foal.
The National Hunt star gave birth to a filly on Friday (15 May).
The bay filly, by Beat Hollow, was born at the Irish National Stud 10.35pm.
According to the stud, both mother and daughter are both doing well, and are enjoying being out in the field.
John Osborne chief executive of The Irish National Stud, told H&H: “She has certainly created an athlete, let’s hope she is the next chapter in a great storybook!”
Quevega, trained by Willie Mullins in Ireland, won 16 from 24 starts — including winning the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival six years running from 2009 to 2014.
“She’s got stamina, speed and everything. She’s just class — what more can I say?” said her trainer after the record-breaking win.
He tweeted after seeing pictures this week: “Great to see Quevega and her foal doing so well @IrishNatStud. She is showing plenty of pace already!”
Now, 11, the mare also won the Grade One Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle at Punchestown four times.
Quevega was bred in France by Pierre Rives and is by Robin Des Champs and out of Vega IV. She ran in France six times, winning three races, before moving to Ireland, where she won on her Irish debut at Punchestown in February 2008.
Owned by the Hammer & Trowl Syndicate, her final race was in May 2014 when she was beaten a length and a quarter by Jetson at Punchestown.
The filly’s sire Beat Hollow is by Sadler’s Wells and is owned by Juddmonte. He stands in Co. Kilkenny at Ballylinch Stud and has progeny includes National Hunt runners Cinders And Ashes, Hollow Tree, Battle Group and Wicklow Brave and Group One Flat winners Beaten Up and Proportional.
Images by Caroline Norris and the Irish National Stud
