Perfect symmetry for Nando Parrado's first foal born at Ballyphilip Stud

In a neat twist of fate, the first foal by Coventry Stakes winner Nando Parrado was bred by Paul and Marie McCartan, whose silks the son of Kodiac carried to glory at Royal Ascot.

The filly has Royal Ascot stamped all over her pedigree as she is half- sister to Imperial Force, out of the Iffraaj mare Cafetiere. She was born on Saturday at the McCartans' Ballyphilip Stud in County Limerick where luminaries such as Baattash, Tiggy Wiggy, Xtension and Harry Angel were also foaled.

Paul McCartan was pleased with the new arrival whose sire stands at the Irish National Stud.

“She is an exceptional foal with strength, a great shape, good hip and bone and a very attractive head. Being by a Coventry winner and a sister to a Norfolk-placed runner you would have to delighted with her," he remarked.

The happy breeder noticed immediate similarities between the filly and her sire.

“Nando Parrado was definitely the best looking foal I have ever bought and as soon as this filly stood I could see she had all of the same qualities he possessed. She is a belter!”

McCartan, a renowned pinhooker as well as breeder, purchased Nando Parrado as a foal for 165,000gns from Whatton Manor Stud who consigned him at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale on behalf of his breeder Anita Wigan.

The following year, he returned to Newmarket for the December Yearling Sale, where he was bought back by Ballyphilip Stud for 200,000gns.

Sent into training with Clive Cox by the McCartans, he won the Coventry Stakes on just his second start and backed up that Ascot run by finishing second in both the Prix Morny and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

He is closely related to the Listed Ben Marshall Stakes second Muntadab by Invincible Spirit and a half-brother to Dubai Horizon, who was third in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy.

It's a strong South American family as his dam, the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Chibola, is a full-sister to Group 1 winner Chollo. Both are by Roy, a son of Fappiano, who was champion sire on several occasions in both Chile and Argentina.

His second dam Choice is a winning half-sister to Cheyenne, who was champion three-year-old colt in Argentina.

The McCartans retained a share in Nando Parrado when he retired to the Irish National Stud, where he was a popular choice in his first season.

“Nando Parrado covered an excellent book of 130 mares in his first season, from some of the country’s leading breeders. There is a top-class syndicate of people supporting him. With Kodiac and his sons having achieved so much in recent years we are very excited about him," remarked Cathal Beale, CEO of the Irish National Stud.

He is about to embark on his second breeding season and his fee of €6,000 remains unchanged from last year.