Emerging sire Merchant Navy has been elevated to heights which few thoroughbreds ever reach.
The newcomer to Kooringal Stud’s ranks progressed from a dual Group 1-winning racehorse to a Group 1-producing stallion when Royal Merchant (pictured) claimed the Goodwood Hcp (1200m) at Morphettville on May 20.
Royal Merchant achieved a rare feat herself, taking out the time-honoured sprint as a three-year-old filly.
The victory was recorded a matter of weeks after Kooringal Stud announced Merchant Navy would be relocating to the Harefield-based operation for 2023.
“It was an amazing result for Merchant Navy and the timing could not have been any better,” Kooringal’s Angus Lamont said.
“Merchant Navy was a racehorse of the highest calibre and boasts the best bloodlines being the son of dual champion Australian sire Fastnest Rock and the stakeswinning Snippets mare Legally Bay.
“And now he is a Group 1-producing sire so he ticks all the boxes.”
Precocious juvenile Steel City has been another stakeswinner this season for Merchant Navy with a victory in the Group 3 Magic Night at Rosehill to her credit.
The all-conquering Ciaron Maher-David Eustace combination are number one fans of Merchant Navy, training both Royal Merchant and Steel City.
Royal Merchant has built a top record in notching four victories and as many placings from 12 appearances.
But it’s still a far cry from her sire, who started on 10 occasions for the outstanding strike-rate of seven wins and two placings for more than $2 million in prizemoney.
If those statistics sound familiar, it’s because another of Kooringal’s stallions Prized Icon boasts those credentials.
Prized Icon secured the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) as a two-year-old before his runaway win in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at three.
The son of More Than Ready amassed $2.1 million in prizemoney before heading to stud.
Merchant Navy ($13,200 inc GST) and Prized Icon ($8800) will stand this season alongside the speed machine Finance Tycoon ($11,000), Snitzel’s son Sandbar ($8800) and the consistent winner-producer The Brothers War.
