Years ago every stud farm remained studiously silent on the issue of "early season foals" but these days they are quite open about the fact that Nature does not always abide by the rules.

We saw a number of early announcements this year including news on 25 July that the first Australian bred foal by FALBRAV (out of the Lure mare Sequin, a half sister to Group 1 winner Scintillation and Group 2 winner Shania Dane, and the dam of the 2YO stakeswinning Snippets filly Get To Work) had been born at Highgrove Stud.

We're officially in the breeding season now - so can expect quite a lot of press around the foals of the first season sires. Today's news was that Lonhro is now a Dad - his first Woodlands Stud-bred foal arriving; a jet black filly out of VRC Oaks victrix Lovelorn (Grand Lodge). Lonhro retired to stud as the winner of 26 of his 35 starts, including 11 Gr.1 victories.