Group One Plans for Unbeaten Fastnet Colt
Exciting Ciaron Maher trained colt Merchant Navy (3c Fastnet Rock x Legally Bay, by Snippets) powered home from back in the field to win the Group III MRC HDF McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
The colt maintained his unbeaten record at his first run of the spring, surging home for Mark Zahra to win the 1200 metre sprint by a head taking his overall record to four wins with prizemoney just shy of $200,000.
"He's a very exciting colt and you just love to see them resume like that," Maher said.
"He'd furnished during the break and put the writing on the wall with his trials and the team has done a great job to get him here today."
Group I goals are on the agenda for the royally bred colt, who runs for a partnership that includes Coolmore.
"He was nice and relaxed today which is a great sign for the future as he was quite a raw colt and wanted to get on with it a little bit as a two-year-old," Maher said
"Now he's furnished into a more rounded racehorse and stretching out over the longer trips he looks as though he will relax really well.
"He actually raced like a horse looking for a trip today he was so relaxed. He's a pretty casual bugger, really good set of lungs and he's really well bred.
"He'll go to the Golden Rose next in three weeks then back here for the Caulfield Guineas."
A $350,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Segenhoe Stud draft for Ciaron Maher Racing, Merchant Navy is a full brother to Group II winner Jolie Bay and stakes-placed Zara Bay.