Merchant Navy Canterbury Quinella

The 1200m juvenile maiden at Canterbury on Wednesday featured a quinella for promising young sire Merchant Navy, who had the first two over the line in race favourite Standing Order (2c Merchant Nav x Brugal Reward, by Reward for Effort) and first starter Cadetship (2g Merchant Navy x Elegant Air, by So You Think).

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Standing Order was having his third start, so had race fitness and experience on his side following a debut second to subsequent Group III winner Williamsburg and an unlucky seventh in the Group III Canberra Black Opal Stakes to Queen of the Ball when held up for a run.

He enjoyed a patient ride from Tommy Berry and when let loose in the straight responded quickly to dash clear and win by two lengths with Cadetship turning in a solid run for second in the Star Thoroughbreds colours

Standing Order will take plenty of confidence from the win and connections will look towards the Queensland Winter Carnival for some Black Type options going forward.

Standing Order was recorded as a $500,000 Magic Millions purchase from the B2B Thoroughbreds draft, but runs in the colours of his breeders as they elected to back their judgement of him as a superior colt and bought him back to race.

He is the first foal of Group III winning Reward for Effort mare Brugal Reward, whose dam is a half-sister to Champion Sprinter and eight time Group I winner Apache Cat.

B2B Thoroughbreds sold the second foal from Brugal Reward, another colt by Merchant Navy, for $190,000 at Inglis Premier this year to McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock Agency.

Standing Order is the third winner for Royal Ascot hero Merchant Navy, who has five entries for Inglis Easter and they include a show-stopping colt from Segenhoe Thoroughbreds.

He is a half-brother to Champion 2YO Filly and $3.4million earner Away Game and will be offered as Lot 149.

Click here to see all the Merchant Navy Inglis Easter entries.