Merchant Navy Filly a Bright Prospect for Bridge

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday October 2

Astute trainer Les Bridge knows how to get the best out of a talented horse and well related Merchant Navy filly Aye Aye Captain looks set for a good campaign after returning from a spell to score a stylish win at Rosehill on Wednesday.

Fourth and second at her first two starts in March and April this year, Aye Aye Captain was tuned up with a recent trial and produced a strong finishing burst for Kerrin McEvoy to charge home and win the 1200m maiden by a length running away.

Retained to race by her breeder Joss May, Aye Aye Captain is the fourth winner from five foals to race from Dal Dal, a metro winning sibling by Encosta de Lago to Group I ATC Flight Stakes winner Speak Fondly and Group II winner Wild and Proud from stakes-winner Blab, whose dam is a half-sister to Champion 2YO and Australian Horse of the Year Bounding Away.

Dal Dal was bought from a Gooree Stud reduction in 2015 for $20,000 by Ms May and was retired from stud duties earlier this year.

Advertisement

Aye Aye Captain is the second winner from the mare trained by Les Bridge, who had high hopes for her I Am invincible daughter Skedaddle, who was retired after just four starts winning two of them in metro company. She has also since gone to stud for Ms May and produced a filly last spring by Harry Angel (IRE).

Merchant Navy, click for more info.

Aye Aye Captain is the 15th winner this season for Merchant Navy, who stands at Kooringal Stud at a fee of $13,200.

Advertisment
More Reading...
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.