Merchant Navy ex Kuching filly

Horse Details

KEY POINTS

• A ripper of a filly by Coolmore Stud Stakes winner MERCHANT NAVY and a close relation to Group 1 Golden Slipper winner SHE WILL REIGN!
• This pedigree screams 2YO speed and precocity. She is out of a half-sister to the dam of a Golden Slipper winner and a Silver Slipper-winning stallion, whilst her third dam SUNSHINE SALLY also won a Group 2 Reisling Stakes, which is a known Golden Slipper lead up.
• She’s a real looker and her truly exceptional bloodlines make her an excellent residual value prospect!
• “What a beauty. She’s a real natural running type. Both genetically and physically, she looks a high quality, early running 2YO speed horse.” – Chris Ward.
• Selected by Triple Crown’s Chris & Michael Ward. Selectors of REDZEL, HOT SNITZEL, PEGGY JEAN, DOTHRAKI, CHARLIE BOY, REVOLUTIONARY MISS, REELEM IN RUBY, MISSILE MANTRA, MOSS TRIP, MILITARY ZONE, EXOBOOM, FLYING SNITZEL, CAVALRY ROSE, PATRONYME, MAZU etc.
• To be trained by the world-renowned pair of Peter and Paul Snowden, trainers of Triple Crown’s 2017 ($10 million) and 2018 ($13 million) The Everest winner REDZEL, 2016 Golden Slipper winner CAPITALIST & last year’s Group 1 winner WILD RULER, as well as CAPTIVANT, KING’S LEGACY, EPAULETTE, RUSSIAN REVOULTION, SHOOTING TO WIN, SEPOY, PRIDE OF DUBAI, HOT SNITZEL, FORENSICS, PEGGY JEAN, DENMAN, GUELPH, EARTHQUAKE, HELMET, SKILLED, PURPLE, MENTAL, COMPLACENT, & BENFICA.

MERCHANT NAVY

There are several reasons why MERCHANT NAVY is one of the most exciting young sires in Australia and he has already sired four winners from his first crop of 2YOS!

First off, he was unbeaten in 3 starts as a 2YO, including the Listed Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington. On his first start at 3, MERCHANT NAVY won the Group 3 McNeil Stakes defeating Booker, who would go on to capture the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.

Perhaps his most notable victory however – certainly on these shores – was the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, known widely as the “stallion making race” given that previous winners include BRAZEN BEAU, ZOUSTAR, NORTHERN METEOR and more recently FLYING ARTIE and HOME AFFAIRS. MERCHANT NAVY also finished third – beaten a neck – behind REDKIRK WARRIOR in the time-honoured Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, prior to heading overseas where he ended his career with two major victories.

On his first and only start in Ireland, MERCHANT NAVY defeated a quality international field in the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes, before an incredible sign off against the world’s best sprinters in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot. In taking out the Diamond Jubilee MERCHANT NAVY became only the 4th Australian horse to win the race – two of the others were Group 1 producing sires in CHOISIR and STARSPANGLEDBANNER, while the other was BLACK CAVIAR!

His race record of seven wins and two placings means that he failed to finish in the top 3 on only one occasion in 10 starts. A son of multiple Champion Australian sire FASTNET ROCK (167 stakes winners of $212 million in progeny earnings) – whose sire sons include HINCHINBROOK, FOXWEDGE & SMART MISSILE – MERCHANT NAVY is a full brother to Group 2 winner JOLIE BAY and to the dam of this season’s stakes winner HINDAAM. His dam is the multiple stakes winner LEGALLY BAY (by SNIPPETS).

Prizemoney opportunities like never before. . .

Please note that this outstanding filly is eligible and suited to target the following races:

• $7,550,000 INGLIS race series (nomination included)
• $3,500,000 Golden Slipper (nomination included)
• $1,000,000 Golden Rose (nomination included)

In 2019/20, there was $808 million distributed in prizemoney throughout Australia with stakes increasing by 82% in the last 10 years: the highest of any racing nation in the world. There are also 72 races worth $1 million or greater in Australia – including 8 x 2YO races – whilst the phenomenal $15m The Everest is the pinnacle for the older horses.

This filly is also BOBS (Breeder Owner Bonus Scheme), and BOBS EXTRA eligible, which means she will be running for millions of dollars in extra bonuses over and above any prizemoney. For example (using some standard race figures):

• Metro Race (Saturday) – Prizemoney = $130,000 plus BOBS up to $40,000. Total on offer = $170,000!
• Metro Race (Midweek) – Prizemoney = $50,000 plus BOBS up to $20,000. Total on offer = $70,000!
• Provincial Race – Prizemoney = $35,000 plus BOBS up to $10,000. Total on offer = $45,000!
• Country Race – Prizemoney = $24,000 plus BOBS up to $10,000. Total on offer = $34,000!

Trainer

Peter Snowden was appointed Head Trainer of the Australian leg of world-class breeding and racing operation, Darley (now Godolphin) in 2008, a role in which he dominated Sydney racing for six years. During his time at Darley he enjoyed unmatched success winning the Sydney Trainer’s Premiership, notching 29 Group 1’s and 214 other stakes wins, amassing $76,743,659 in prizemoney.

Throughout his career, Peter has proved himself a superior trainer of 2yo’s. In May 2016 he won the world’s most valuable and prestigious juvenile race – the Golden Slipper – for a third time with CAPITALIST, adding to the list of multiple wins in the Blue Diamond, Sire’s Produce, T.J Smith and Champagne Stakes. In 2011, he oversaw a clean sweep of every juvenile Group 1 race, with SEPOY (Blue Diamond, Golden Slipper), HELMET (Sires’ Produce Stakes, Champagne Stakes) and BENFICA (T.J. Smith), a feat that had never before been accomplished.

Peter, also known as the modern day King of the Caulfield Guineas, has demonstrated himself as a superb developer of a horse into their third year, having won Australia’s most coveted 3yo race three times over the last nine years. Peter is rightly regarded as the most astute trainer in the industry.

Paul Snowden commenced his career as a track work rider before graduating to Assistant Trainer for Darley, where he ran the Melbourne stables with outstanding success. Paul prepared approximately 80-100 winners each season and oversaw SEPOY’S clean sweep of Melbourne’s 3yo and Open class sprinting events including Group 1 wins in the Manikato and Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Peter & Paul commenced their training partnership in 2014 and within their first 12 months recorded a remarkable five Group 1 wins including Caulfield Guineas winner SHOOTING TO WIN, as well as PRIDE OF DUBAI, HOT SNITZEL & MIRACLES OF LIFE. Peter & Paul have produced an endless list of outstanding racehorses including REDZEL, CAPITALIST, SEPOY, DENMAN, SHOOTING TO WIN, KING’S LEGACY, HOT SNITZEL, FORENSICS, PRIDE OF DUBAI, PEGGY JEAN, GUELPH, EARTHQUAKE, HELMET, EPAULETTE, SKILLED, CHARLIE BOY, MENTAL, COMPLACENT, BENFICA, BEADED, DOTHRAKI, INVADER, TYCOON TARA  and RUSSIAN REVOLUTION etc.

In what was a great coup for both sides, Triple Crown and Team Snowden proudly announced an exclusive partnership in September 2014, which ensures that you, the Triple Crown owners, will always have a chance to race a horse with Team Snowden located at Sydney’s newly improved, world class racecourse Royal Randwick.