'The greatest stallion to have ever stood at the Irish National Stud' - Invincible Spirit retired at 27

The Irish National Stud has announced the retirement of Invincible Spirit, the sire of 22 individual Group 1 winners worldwide, including Kingman, Moonlight Cloud and Magna Grecia. 

A son of Green Desert and the highly influential Prix de Diane winner Rafha, Invincible Spirit was a top-class performer on the track for Prince AA Faisal and the John Dunlop stable, with seven victories headed by the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock. 

He was retired to the Irish National Stud at an opening fee of €10,000 in 2003 and quickly demonstrated his ability to produce high-class and durable horses, landing the freshman sires' title in 2006 and earning himself a fee hike to €35,000.

His first European Classic winner came with Lawman in the 2007 Prix du Jockey Club, while he was soon followed by Fleeting Spirit, Mayson and six-time top-flight winner Moonlight Cloud. 

It was arguably the brilliant Kingman who pushed the stallion to another level, with the four-time Group 1 winner becoming Invincible Spirit's first Irish Classic winner in the 2014 Irish 2,000 Guineas. 

That result contributed to his fee rising to €100,000 the following year, while it was increased further to €120,000 for the next four seasons. He had stood at a private fee for the past two years.

Invincible Spirit with Michael 'Daffer' Kelly: "He retires as a living legend"Credit: Irish National Stud

Invincible Spirit claimed a first British Classic winner when Magna Grecia landed the 2,000 Guineas in 2019. Overall, he is the sire of 144 black-type winners and counting, including 76 individual Group winners. 

His champion Australian sire son I Am Invincible has been building an immense legacy, while his sons in the northern hemisphere have been led by Kingman, sire of 13 individual Group 1 winners including champion milers Palace Pier and Persian King, as well as 2024 Classic stars Sparkling Plenty and Elmalka. 

Other sire sons of note include Territories, responsible for Group 1 winners Lazzat, Rougir and Regional, along with fellow Group 1 winners and sires Mayson, Lawman, Charm Spirit, Shalaa and Royal Meeting. 

Also contributors to Invincible Spirit's reputation as a sire of sires are Profitable and Cable Bay, plus young stallions Inns Of Court and Invincible Army. 

Invincible Spirit's daughters have produced this year's 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes hero Notable Speech, Breeders' Cup winner Victoria Road and Canadian International winner Desert Encounter. 

Irish National Stud chief executive Cathal Beale said: "It has been a great privilege for all of us at Tully to have been here during the reign of Invincible Spirit. 

"He has been, unquestionably, the greatest stallion to have ever stood at the Irish National Stud. We're delighted to be able to retire him now on his own terms. 

"He'll live out his days being looked after by the same people, being turned out every day to the same paddock and being given the same exceptional care. He retires as a living legend.” 

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