Smart Win for Merchant Navy Filly

Sporting the colours of Everest hero Giga Kick, promising filly Drop the Verse (3f Merchant Navy x Volcada, by Stravinsky) opened her account with a stylish win at Ballarat on Thursday giving the promise of better things to come.

Trained by Matthew Ellerton, Drop the Verse is a homebred for Jonathan Munz as is Giga Kick, and she looked a bright prospect for the future when resuming from a spell to post an easy win.

Seventh on debut back in April, she was easy in the market but powered to the line to win the 1000m maiden by two lengths.

“She’s improved a lot from her break and has matured and gotten a little bit stronger as well,” said winning rider Damien Thornton.

“Looking at her in the yard, her coat is still to come through so there is more improvement to come and she should progress from here.”

Drop the Verse is a three-quarter sister to Group III winner Kaepernick and is the seventh winner from seven foals to race from stakes-winning Stravinsky mare Volcada.