First Roaring Lion foal born

The first foal from the only crop left by 2018 Cartier Horse of The Year, Roaring Lion, is a colt and has been born at Jeffrey and Phoebe Hobby’s Brightwalton Stud in Newbury.

The colt was born on the evening of Saturday 11 January and is the second foal out of six-year-old Azamour mare Counterweight.

Brightwalton's stud manager Sean Keane said: “He is a well-made, attractive colt with plenty of athleticism. He is full of energy and a joy to be around. The Hobbys are delighted with him.”

Counterweight is a full sister to Gr.2 winner Eleanora Duse and was bought from the 2017 Ballymacoll Stud dispersal sale at Tattersalls by Brightwalton. Counterweight’s 2019 filly foal by Sea The Stars changed hands for 310,000gns in November.

Roaring Lion covered over 130 mares - including Gr.1 winners Simple Verse, Bateel, Golden Lilac, Giofra etc. - at Tweenhills in his only season at stud before tragically succumbing to colic in New Zealand in August.