First Defence, United States sold to Saudi Arabian interests

Sires First Defence and United States have been sold to stand at Half Stud in Saudi Arabia beginning in 2017.

First Defence, a 12-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song, previously stood at Juddmonte Farms in Lexington, Ky., where he was advertised in 2016 for a fee of $7,500.

He has sired five crops of racing age, with 112 winners and combined progeny earnings in excess of $11.2 million.

Leading runners by First Defence include champion Close Hatches; Dundonnell, a Group 2 winner in Hong Kong and Group 3 winner in England; and Grade 3/Group 3 winners Irish Jasper and Antonoe. In Saudi Arabia, he is represented by multiple Group 3-placed New Line.

First Defence raced as a homebred for Juddmonte Farms, winning six of 14 starts for earnings of $580,534, highlighted by victories in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes and the Grade 3 Jaipur Stakes.

First Defence is a half-brother to stakes winners Phantom Rose and Honest Quality, all out of the Grade 1 winner Honest Lady. His second dam is Grade 1 winner Toussaud, who is also the dam of Grade 1 winners Empire Maker, Chester House, and Chiselling, as well as Grade 2 winner Decarchy.

United States is a 10-year-old by A.P. Indy who stood at Northwest Stud in Ocala, Fla., for an advertised fee of $2,500.

The sire’s three crops of racing age include 12 winners and combined earnings of $454,516. His top runners include Puerto Rican champion La Irunesa and multiple-stakes-placed U S Diva.

United States was a $2 million purchase out of the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale, and won one of nine career starts for $40,545. He is out of the unraced Unbridled mare Blithe, whose six foals to race are all winners, and comes from the family of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, Preakness Stakes winner Pine Bluff, Grade 1 winners Demons Begone and Street Fancy, and Grade 3/Group 3 winners Brave Tin Soldier and Texas Fever.

The deals were brokered by Chad Schumer Bloodstock and Khalid Alsyari