First NH Winner for US Navy Flag

Media Release - Wednesday April 13

Shuttle stallion U S Navy Flag has registered his first winner in the northern hemisphere when Ocean Vision won the Irish EBF median sires series maiden (1000m) at Dundalk on debut yesterday.

US Navy Flag is on the board with his first winner.

Prepared by Kieran Cotter and ridden by Jake Coen, Ocean Vision raced greenly throughout but defeated favourite Lady Tilbury by three-quarters of a length.

“He actually needs six furlongs (1200m), he was all over the place early on in the race but came home strong,” Cotter said.

“There was a lot of talk about a lot of horses here today but we knew our lad was fit and he showed it there today. He enjoyed that surface and I'd say he would want quick, decent ground. He'd have no problem moving up to six."

U S Navy Flag was an ultra-tough two-year-old, racing 11 times for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners, with gritty wins in the Gr.1 Middle Park Stakes (1200m) and Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) supplemented with a strike in the Gr.2 Round Tower Stakes (1200m).

Advertisement

The son of War Front also proved a top-class performer at three, winning the Gr.1 July Cup (1200m) as well as placing second to Romanised in the Gr.1 Irish 2,000 Guineas (1600m). He retired to Coolmore for the 2019 breeding season at a fee of €25,000 and shuttled to New Zealand, with his first two seasons at Valachi Downs before relocating to The Oaks Stud last season where he stood for a fee of $15,000.

With his eldest southern hemisphere progeny yearlings, the first crop of U S Navy Flag were keenly sought after at last month’s Karaka Sales, selling up to $340,000 and averaging just over $80,0000 with 32 yearlings sold.

Ocean Vision is one of three runners to date for U S Navy Flag, with his son Kaasib beaten a neck on debut at Wolverhampton eight days ago for trainer Clive Cox.

U S Navy Flag is the third foal out of the multiple Group One-winning Galileo mare Misty For Me - a full-sister to three black type performers including Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) heroine Ballydoyle - and is therefore a full-brother to multiple Group One-winning miler Roly Poly and a half-sibling to Grade 3 scorer Cover Song. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.