Newsells delight as Waldmark safely delivers first foal in five years

There was a very special Easter delivery for Newsells Park Stud on Sunday when Waldmark, the dam of St Leger hero Masked Marvel, produced her first foal for five years in the early hours of the morning.

The 17-year-old daughter of Mark Of Esteem has not produced a foal since delivering Waldnah, a Listed-winning daughter of New Approach in April 2012. After barren spells to Dubawi, Frankel and Oasis Dream, she has safely delivered a filly foal by dual world champion Frankel.

The Hertfordshire farm's staff are naturally overjoyed with their newest arrival. "It's really exciting," said general manager Julian Dollar. "Waldmark looks really well and has had a very nice filly by Frankel which is an extra bonus. A lot of time, patience and effort has gone into getting her to this point, and it's just rewards for everyone."

A number of different measures have been taken to assist Waldmark in recent years, ranging from conformational surgery on her uterus to the hormonal treatment Regumate.

Dollar added: "We have worked hard with the vets to decide what we were going to do with her, and how we were going to look after her. She was kept in a middle-sized paddock with five other mares she knew very well, and they were left alone and undisturbed.

"We didn't bring her in when she was close to her foaling date, but did when it was her due date. We didn't disturb her at all, kept her very quiet and relaxed - and thank God it worked.

"It's a lovely story, and for us it's really fantastic she's had a baby. I've sort of been keeping my fingers crossed for a year."

In that time, Waldmark's family has been back in the limelight thanks to her daughter Walderleche producing last year's Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Waldgeist, a three-year-old son of Galileo.

Walderleche is also part of the broodmare band at Newsells and Dollar is hoping that her son could develop into a Derby type.

Attention now turns to Waldmark's next cover and she is set to visit Sea The Stars, sire of last year's dual Derby hero Harzand.

Dollar said: "I'm a bit nervous about sending her away but it's a nice match on paper and if we're lucky enough to get one that'd be great. She's got a real Classic pedigree and won't get many sharp sorts, but if she gets a ten-furlong, mile-and-a-half horse that's fine with us.

"Anyhow today is a nice result for us all: the vets, the team here and people like Simon Mockridge, who have all been very patient. It's all turned out to be worthwhile."