Merchant Navy retired to stud

Merchant Navy, who proved himself to be one of the best sprinters in the world when winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes-Gr.1 at Royal Ascot, has been retired to stud.

An unbeaten Stakes winner at two and a Gr.1 winner over 6f in Australia before transferring to be trained in Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien Merchant Navy is the heir apparent to his multiple champion sire Fastnet Rock.

“He’s a very special horse” stated Aidan O’Brien “for a 3yo to come up from Australia and win like he did at the Curragh [Gr.2 Greenlands Stakes] and then at Royal Ascot while being weighted as an older horse is remarkable. He was actually 12lbs wrong in the Diamond Jubilee. Only a horse with such natural speed and wonder temperament like he has could do it.”

He will enter quarantine in Ireland before travelling to Coolmore Australia where he will cover an outstanding book of mares.

“Merchant Navy’s amazing win at Royal Ascot means he retires to stud as one of the best sprinting colts of modern times. We are very excited about his stallion prospects as he was such a brilliant 3yo sprinter just like his sire Fastnet Rock and grandsire Danehill.” said Coolmore Australia’s Tom Magnier.