Coolmore Ireland Breeders' Handbook 2019

In addition to his fine racing record, which included three wins from as many starts as a two-year-old, Merchant Navy has a pedigree which virtually guarantees success as a stallion. His is bred on a similar pattern to the champion Australian stallion Snitzel, as both were sired by a champion son of Danehill from a stakes-winning daughter of champion sprinter Snippets. Snitzel became Australia’s highest-priced stallion when his fee was raised to AUS$220,000. He has sired more than 50 Group winners, with 13 Gr.1 winners among them. Merchant Navy represents the same Fastnet Rock-Snippets nick as two other stallions - the Gr.3 winner Hinchinbrook and the Gr.1 winner Wanted - which have already enjoyed Gr.1 success. Although only a Gr.3 winner Hinchinbrook did so well as a stallion that his 2018 fee was set at AUS$55,000, although he started out at $16,500. Unfortunately, Hinchinbrook died in July 2018, but he left 15 stakes winners, headed by 11 Group winners. Other sons of Fastnet Rock have sired Gr.1 winners from daughters of EL PRADO and BARATHEA . As Fastnet Rock himself has sired 18% black-type winners from a large number of foals out of GALILEO mares and 7% from his many foals out of SADLER’S WELLS mares, Merchant Navy looks a natural to succeed with these mares and he is also a candidate for mares by sons of Galileo, such as NEW APPROACH , TEOFILO and FRANKEL . The last two create 3x4 to DANEHILL . Wanted, who represents the same Fastnet Rock-Snippets cross as Merchant Navy, has already sired a Gr.1 winner from a GALILEO mare. Mares by MONTJEU and HIGH CHAPARRAL may also benefit from Merchant Navy’s speed. NUREYEV also appears in the pedigrees of plenty of Fastnet Rock’s Group winners, including via daughters of PEINTRE CELEBRE , STRAVINSKY and POLAR FALCON . Mares by PIVOTAL should suit Merchant Navy very well. Other sons of Fastnet Rock have Gr.2 and Gr.3 winners inbred 3x3 to DANEHILL . Mares by the likes of ZOFFANY , CHOISIR , MASTERCRAFTSMAN and EXCELEBRATION would create only 3x4 to DANEHILL . The GREEN DESERT branch of the DANZIG line has plenty to offer through such fast sons as OASIS DREAM and INVINCIBLE SPIRIT . These create 4x4 to DANZIG . Mares by CAPE CROSS and his son SEA THE STARS should also work, especially as Sea The Stars is a half-brother to Galileo. Merchant Navy’s dam is by Snippets, a champion broodmare sire who not only works particularly well with the Danehill line but also with the MR PROSPECTOR line. MR PROSPECTOR line mares are also a favourite of Merchant Navy’s sire Fastnet Rock, with FUSAICHI PEGASUS , WOODMAN , KINGMAMBO , LION CAVERN , XAAR and THUNDER GULCH among the broodmare sires of his Group winners. As other sons of Fastnet Rock have sired Gr.2 winners from daughters of STREET CRY and WOODMAN , Merchant Navy should suit mares by the likes of ZAFONIC , ZAMINDAR , IFFRAAJ , RAVEN’S PASS , TAMAYUZ and DUTCH ART . Fastnet Rock’s broodmare sire Royal Academy is a son of CRIMSON SAINT , who is also famous as the second dam of STORM CAT . Daughters of Storm Cat line stallions such as JOHANNESBURG , SCAT DADDY , GIANT’S CAUSEWAY , SHAMARDAL and LOPE DE VEGA are prime candidates for Merchant Navy.

The Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered as Ascot Vale Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m) is now recognised as one of Australia’s stallion making races…Last Saturday’s renewal of the Coolmore Stud Stakes attracted a field of 20 down the straight course at Flemington and was among the most competitive and memorable as it produced a dramatic finish with superbly bred colt Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock) darting through on the rails close to home… Merchant Navy certainly has the depth of pedigree to become a good sire Les Young , 8th Nov. 2017

Previous winners of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes-Gr.1 include: Starspangledbanner Society Rock Choisir Royal Applause Danehill

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