Success lives here

At Flemington in Melbourne, Coolmore's former Gr1-winning Champion Australian Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill-Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy) celebrated an elite race success when 3YO bay colt Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock-Legally Bay, by Snippets) flashed home along the fence to score a thrilling last stride victory in the $1 million Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) for 3YOs, defeating Invincible Star & Formality. Purchased for $350,000 by Ciaron Maher Racing at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Segenhoe Stud, Merchant Navy advanced his impressive record to 5 wins (including the Gr3 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes & Listed Anzac Day Stakes) from 6 starts for $809,450 in earnings. The prestigious Coolmore Stud Stakes boasts a reputation as a stallion-making race, meaning the well-bred Merchant Navy is now one of the most valuable stud prospects in the country. By Fastnet Rock out of Gr3 Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Legally Bay, Merchant Navy is a full-brother to Gr2 ATC Roman Consul Stakes winner Jolie Bay. Legally Bay herself is a half-sister to Gr1 Myer Classic winner Bonaria. "It's a stallion-making race and he's a well-bred Fastnet Rock colt and he's done the job in great style," trainer Aaron Purcell told racing.com.