Merchant Winner Impressive

Merchant Navy had two runners at Canterbury on Friday night and very nearly posted a winning double with Royal Merchant (3f Merchant Navy x Seventhchic, by Seventh Reason) saluting as favourite and promising filly Maritima (3f Merchant Navy x Sagaronne, by Real Saga) finishing a gallant second.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Royal Merchant was fifth on debut back in June behind subsequent stakes-winner Kibou and was well fancied on his return following some encouraging efforts at the trials.

Royal Merchant sped clear to win the 1100m maiden by more than two lengths under Jason Collett and there are more wins in store.

A $160,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Edinburgh Park draft for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, Royal Merchant is the first winner for Seventhchic, a metro winning half-sister to stakes-placed Alburq tracing in tail female line to blue hen Eau D’Etoile, the dam of Group I winners Bint Marscay, Filante and Kenny’s Best Pal.

The Chris Waller trained Maritima is yet to miss a place in four starts and was second beaten half a length in the 1550m maiden with her turn in the winner’s circle sure to come.

Merchant Navy stands at a fee of $27,500 and has 11 entries for Magic Millions 2023.