Early surprise as first foal is safely delivered at Mungrup Stud’s Narrikup property

There was an early surprise at Mungrup Stud on Thursday morning, with the first foal of the season delivered safely more than a week before her official birthday.

A filly from Get No Answers by A Lot was the first foal to drop for the season at the Stud, which is in the process of closing down.

The foal season runs from August until the start of November, and the Mungrup Stud is expecting a number of new babies to be born from mares in foal, most of which will be up for purchase in the dispersal sale next month.

Mungrup Stud’s Ann Croucher said despite arriving earlier than expected, the filly was born healthy and happy last week.

“She’s just a little bit early — she wasn’t due until early August,” Ms Croucher said.

“It was all safe and healthy and she’s a bright, bouncing baby girl.”

Of the 74 mares up for purchase in Mungrup’s online sale, nearly all are in foal.

“There will be a few more foals born before the sale, we just don’t know which ones,” Ms Croucher said.

“Foaling goes through to the end of October or the start of November and usually starts on August 1.

“We have 74 mares in the sale, and I think 70 of those are in foal.

“A lot of mares will be purchased with a foal in their belly, but some will sneak in before the sale.”

August 1 is the birthday for thoroughbreds born in the southern hemisphere.

Mungrup’s dispersal sale catalogue is now online with Magic Millions.

The stud is hosting open days from Thursday to Sunday this week.