First Win for Merchant Navy Brother

Tara Madgwick - Thursday December 31

He cost $2.3million at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and Merchant Navy’s little brother Setanta cast off maiden status at Warrnambool on New Year’s Eve.

Advertisement

Setanta wins in a breeze at Warrnambool - image Alice Miles / Racing Photos

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Setanta placed once in three previous starts earlier this year in New South Wales, but seemed much more committed to the cause when resuming from a lengthy spell.

He struck a big field of 14 runners in the 1400m maiden and dominated at the finish, forging clear to win by three lengths in a dominant display.
 


A big powerful colt that has needed time to mature, Setanta was bought by Aquis from the Segenhoe draft and runs in the Aquis colours for a syndicate of owners.

He is a full brother to dual Group I winner and exciting young sire Merchant Navy as well as Group II winner Jolie Bay and is the seventh winner from nine foals to race from Group II winning Snippets mare Legally Bay, who died in 2019.

The first yearlings by Merchant Navy are tipped to star at upcoming yearling sales in 2021 starting with the Magic Millions at the Gold Coast where he has 25 youngsters catalogued.




 

Advertisment

Race Result - M Lucas Accounting Vale Mdn 1400m

Warrnambool Track: Good(4) Time: 1:24.34
1
Setanta
- 3c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Legally Bay (AUS) (Snippets (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 58
2
3.0
Wine O'Clock
- 4g Roc De Cambes (NZ) x Show Up (NZ) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 59.5
3
3.8
Robyn's Folly
- 4m Hurdy Gurdy Man (AUS) x Shiny And New (AUS) (Foreplay (AUS))
Tnr: Daniel Bowman Rdr: Jordan Childs 57.5
4
3.9
Handshake
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Fast Gal (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: Dean Holland 58
5
4.0
Sidewalk Sinner
- 3f Street Boss (USA) x Evening Glitter (AUS) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: Daniel Bowman Rdr: Melissa Julius 56
6
5.8
Hailey's Diva
- 4m Swiss Ace (AUS) x Diamond Hailey (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Jamie Edwards Rdr: D Moor 57.5
7
6.1
Anewdaydawning
- 4g Dawn Approach (IRE) x Clothilde (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: M A Townsend Rdr: Lewis German 59.5
8
6.6
Ask Isla
- 4m Von Costa De Hero (AUS) x Feel Like Dancing (AUS) (Jeune (GB))
Tnr: Q J Scott Rdr: Laura Lafferty 56
9
6.8
Fightingforjustice
- 3g Fighting Sun (AUS) x Perilous Princess (AUS) (Dangerous (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J Lorensini 58
9
6.8
Tintreach
- 5g Kaphero (AUS) x Lightning Lassie (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: S R Fisher Rdr: Jack Hill 59.5
11
7.2
Bondi Beau
- 3g Brazen Beau (AUS) x Bondi Girl (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Yendall 58
12
8.2
All Ova Nova
- 4g Nova Sofala (AUS) x Carramaena (AUS) (Damascus Storm (USA))
Tnr: Ms J Smith Rdr: C Newitt 59.5
13
9.2
Miss Construed
- 3f Magnus (AUS) x Miss Diagnosis (IRE) (Medicean (GB))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Declan Bates 56
14
11.4
Shultzy
- 3g Helmet (AUS) x Princess Hussey (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: Pat Cannon Rdr: Michael Poy 58
More Reading...
Day 1 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale 375,000 Guineas for August George
Smart two-year-old AUGUST GEORGE topped the opening day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at Park Paddocks when selling for 375,000 guineas to Qatari trainer Gassim Ghazali, one of five lots to realise 200,000 guineas or more.
Famous Foal with Coolmore Stud Stakes Connections
The Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes this weekend is a race that has developed a deserved reputation as a sire making race and a foal image that arrived to the Breednet Foal Gallery on Monday is a colt with an undeniable connection to this pivotal race for the breeding industry.
Aussie Bred Sprinter to Run in G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint This Weekend
Australian spring racing might appear to be the centre of the universe in our neck of the woods, but in the Northern Hemisphere this weekend it is all about the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Del Mar in California and an Aussie bred sprinter could be poised to spring an upset.
Farnan Filly Wins by Four!
The Mulberry Racing colours were in the frame at Hawkesbury on Tuesday when the Brad Widdup trained Farnan filly Blue Eyed Brigid bolted in as a short priced favourite.
Same Race - New Name- $1 million THE MOVE TO STRIKE THOROUGHBRED CLUB STAKES
First run in 1968 and previously featured on Caulfield Cup Day, the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes enters an exciting new era in 2025.
First Winner for King of Comedy
Novara Park Stud stallion King Of Comedy (IRE) is on the board as a sire, with his son Sir Ruby becoming his first winner when victorious over 1300m at Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia on Sunday.
Melbourne Cup Dream Alive for Kiwi Stayers
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) dreams are still alive for connections of Kiwi stayers Mark Twain and Trav.
Tara Talks Racing Podcast Online
We’re talking Cox Plate and whether Bucky can win the Cup, plus Godolphin colts, how can you not, they have had a fabulous spring and it’s not over yet!
Kiwi Breeding Partnership Strikes with She's a Hustler
John Thompson and Greg Tomlinson have combined for another major stakes success in Australia.
Maher and Waller Strike at Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale
Champion Australian trainers Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher have been active during the first session of the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale, which was topped last year by Sir Delius (GB) at 1.3million guineas.