The Oaks purchase U S Navy Flag from Coolmore

Media Release - Wednesday June 7

The Oaks Stud in Cambridge have shown their faith in young stallion U S Navy Flag, purchasing him outright from Coolmore Stud.

The regally-bred son of War Front sired his sixth individual winner from his first crop when Geldof won in good fashion at Avondale on Saturday, while Chantilly Lace trounced her rivals in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui to become the stallion’s first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner.

US Navy Flag (USA)

“The deal was finalised on Friday, so we own him now. The timing has been perfect for us, and I hope it is a coup for the New Zealand industry,” The Oaks Stud’s general manager Rick Williams said.

“We had been working on an agreement for some time.

“Before we did the deal, I rang virtually every trainer in New Zealand with his stock to get their thoughts, as we were spending a bit of money, and the overwhelming feedback is they will improve even further.

“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.”

Advertisement

Williams also advised there are a limited number of shares available in U S Navy Flag, the leading first crop sire by winners, who will stand his fifth season at stud in New Zealand at a fee of $15,000 + GST.

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. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Bloodstockauction 2025 Stallion Cover Charity Auction
Bloodstockauction Stallion Cover Charity Auction is on again this year seeking to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities Sydney.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 10
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Progressive Mare Bred on Magic Cross
The magic Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross that has produced champion mare Via Sistina (IRE) was in the frame overnight in Ireland where six year-old mare Goodie Two Shoes scored a career best win in the Group III Stanerra Stakes (1m6f) at Fairyhouse.
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Two powerful additions announced for Equate 2025
The countdown to Equate '25 just got even more exciting. Australasia's number one innovation event for the thoroughbred industry has announced two brand-new sessions that bring together transparency, technology, and tangible takeaways for all attendees.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Spring racing is just around the corner and a busy set of trials at Randwick on Friday featured eight heats won by juveniles with winners including stakes horses The Playwright and Cobra Club as well as unraced youngsters by Justify (USA), I Am Invincible and Flying Artie.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
G1 Sprinter Crocetti Returns to Work
Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has returned to Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Byerley Park stable with some lofty summer targets in-mind.