Wednesday Metro Winner for Merchant Navy

Dual Group I winning sprinter and Royal Ascot hero Merchant Navy was on the board with a smart winner at Belmont on Wednesday with Galaxy Affair (3g Merchant Navy x Wild Ava, by High Chaparral) resuming from a spell to post a stylish win.

The Daniel and Ben Pearce trained gelding was a winner last season at Ascot and was spelled after finishing out of the placings in the Group II WATC Karrakatta Plate.

He returned to score by a length and a half in the 1200m Class 1 event beating the hot favourite Lord Gannicus.

Galaxy Affair was purchased as a weanling from the 2020 Inglis Digital June (late) Sale for $42,500 by Danny Coyne.

He was bred by Aquis and is the first foal of Wild Ava, a metropolitan winning half-sister by High Chaparral to Group II WATC Karrakatta Plate winner Ima Single Man from stakes-winning Not a Single Doubt mare Single Spice.

Galaxy Affair was the first winner for Merchant Navy back in January and is now his first winner of the new season following a string of place-getters.

Merchant Navy stands at a fee of $27,500 this spring.