Early Signs Good for US Navy Flag

Media Release - Sunday June 4

The early signs are good for multiple Group One winning stallion U S Navy Flag, who shuttles to the Oaks Stud in Cambridge.

The regally-bred son of War Front heads a strong group of first season sires by winners in New Zealand, with six individual winners posted since February.

Chantilly Lace is a first Kiwi stakes-winner for US Navy Flag.

On Saturday, U S Navy Flag was represented by his first stakes winner when Chantilly Lace trounced her rivals in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui, having previously been stakes-placed.

Also victorious was the Peter and Dawn Williams-trained debutant Geldof, who backed up his strong trial form with a tough win at Avondale over 1200m.

The Oaks Stud’s General Manager Rick Williams was pleased to see the young stallion notch his first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner, with To Catch A Thief and Aprillia both Group One placed, while Penvose Lad was runner-up in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m).

“He has been knocking on the door and I was pleased for that filly (Chantilly Lace) to get her first stakes victory,” Williams said. “She is obviously very tenacious.

“Geldof was also impressive at Avondale. We race the third horse (Antrim Coast) and have a good opinion of him.

“I had a good look at Geldof at the Te Awamutu trials and he is a gorgeous horse, with good size and scope and Warren Kennedy (jockey) was pretty bullish about him.

“It is great news for those who have supported the stallion. He has just been a bit unlucky not to crack one earlier and there are so many of them that have been stakes placed. It is a good sign.”

Advertisement

US Navy Flag (USA)

Debuting as an early two-year-old, U S Navy Flag was victorious in the Gr.3 Round Tower Stakes (1200m) at the Curragh before going on to win the Gr.1 Middle Park Stakes (1200m) and Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) at Newmarket.

In doing so, U S Navy Flag became the first horse in 35 years to land the Middle Park-Dewhurst double and he was subsequently crowned Champion Two-Year-Old in Europe, Great Britain and Ireland in 2017.

He returned at three to run second in the Gr.1 Irish 2,000 Guineas (1600m) before taking out his third Group One victory in the July Cup (1200m). He went on to be crowned Champion Three-Year-Old Sprinter in Europe, Great Britain and Ireland.

Only Per Incanto (seven winners) in season 2014-15 has sired more first crop winners in New Zealand than U S Navy Flag in recent memory.

“They seem to be getting better and every trainer I talk with says they are going to be much better three-year-olds, so let’s hope they are good judges,” Williams said.

“They have got to go on at three, which is a crucial season, but you also want sires now that can leave two-year-old winners. With the cost of horses in training, it is really important to have horses that can sire good two and three-year-olds.

“We’ve got 14 rising yearlings by U S Navy Flag and we supported him big time again last year.

“There are a few other trial winners that haven’t run yet, so he is trending in right direction.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
Yes Yes Yes to Stand at Gooree Park Stud
When Yes Yes Yes scored a course record breaking win in The Everest in 2019, the three year-old colt delivered a fairytale result for his ownership group and some of those owners are committed to ensuring his future at stud going forward and they include Julia Ritchie.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Peltzer added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.