Seventh Winner for Merchant Navy

Breednet - Sunday July 24

Merchant Navy brought up winner number seven with a tough debut winner at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

Diana's Affair as a yearling

Tackling 1200m at his first start, Diana’s Affair was let find his feet early by James Orman before producing a determined finish to out point early leader and short-priced favourite Big Sky Country.

The third foal of unraced Northern Meteor mare, Diana’s Star, Diana’s Affair was a $210,000 buy for Kelly Schweida from the Segenhoe Strud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Advertisement

Diana’s Star has a rising two-year-old filly by Not A Single Doubt, named Hinata, bought by Cambridge Stud for $425,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, as well as a weanling by Snitzel and was served by So You Think last season.

Fastnet Rock’s Champion 3YO Sprinter, Merchant Navy stands at Coolmore this spring at $27,500.

Advertisment

Race Result - Simon George & Sons Mdn Plate 1200m

Sunshine Coast Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:14.62
1
Diana's Affair
- 2g Merchant Navy (AUS) x Diana's Star (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: James Orman 57
2
0.2
Big Sky Country
- 2c Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Jaunty (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ben Thompson 57
MM Gold Coast March Yearling Sale $50,000
Seller: Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld (As Agent)
Buyer: Peter Sinclair
3
2.7
Sir Leonidas
- 2g Nostradamus (AUS) x Fireglo (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: P & W Hulbert Rdr: M R Du Plessis 57
4
8.2
Lady Deanne
- 2f Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Hypernova (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: R L Cameron Rdr: Madeleine Wishart 55
5
21.2
The Veresdale
- 2g The Mission (AUS) x Jokes N Jazz (USA) (It's No Joke (USA))
Tnr: L G Ross Rdr: Jasmine Cornish 55
More Reading...
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
One to Watch – Wyong
The juvenile maiden at Wyong on Tuesday had some interesting runners including the highest price yearling by Maurice (Jpn) sold in 2024 and he did take the win, but it was not without drama.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ardrossan Supporters Rewarded with Taken
The emergence of the Victorian-based Taken is another winning story for a New Zealand breeding and ownership group established to support the three-year-old’s young sire.