Merchant Navy To O'Brien

Merchant Navy | Bronwen Healy

Leading Australian 3-year-old sprinter Merchant Navy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will join the Ballydoyle stable of trainer Aidan O'Brien for his tilt at Royal Ascot's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in June.

An unbeaten stakes winner at two, Merchant Navy won the G3 McNeil S. first-up in the spring before losing his unbeaten record in the G1 Golden Rose S. He bounced back with a victory in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and has been twice third, both times beaten less than a half-length, this season: in the G2 Rubiton S. on Feb. 10 and in last weekend's G1 Newmarket H. His closing 600 metre split (:32.09) of the Newmarket was the fastest recorded by any horse on the card.

O'Brien has enjoyed past Royal Ascot successes with Australian transplants Starspangledbanner (Aus), Haradasun (Aus) and So You Think (NZ).

“I am very excited by Merchant Navy,” said O'Brien. “I was very interested to see his run on Saturday and I thought he was unlucky not to win. I love that he can produce a long, sustained burst of speed and the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot looks the perfect race for him.”

Ciaron Maher trained Merchant Navy at two, but the colt was transferred to Aaron Purcell thereafter while Maher served a suspension. Maher said, “Merchant Navy was an outstanding yearling and I have rated him as something special ever since the day he first cantered. He is a brilliant colt with an incredible constitution and I look forward to him showcasing his talent at Royal Ascot. Aidan has invited me to visit Ballydoyle to discuss the horse in the coming days and I am very much looking forward to that. I have no doubt that he is a horse capable of excelling on the world stage.”

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