Description
Lot 966 bay filly Merchant Navy – In The Vanguard (Encosta de Lago) (draft: Newgate Farm)
The filly is a half-sister to Group One winner and Champion Two-Year-Old Sword of State (Snitzel), purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and who recently completed his first sire season at Cambridge Stud.
Winning six of 10 starts, the readymade two-year-old colt blew his rivals away by six and a half lengths on debut over 1200 metres, bowed to subsequent triple Group One winning stable-mate Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) after contesting a hot pace, turned the Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr. 3, 1200m) into a procession by emulating his debut winning margin (6.5 lengths), and raced clear to win the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) by three and a half lengths.
From a very fast family and a standout colt at the sales, Sword of State was the first foal from In the Vanguard.
By a fast son of Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), Merchant Navy was a triple Group One winner over 1200 metres (twice in Aust., and Royal Ascot) in career of seven wins from 10 starts.
A Coolmore shuttle stallion, he commenced stud duties in 2018 and oldest progeny are three-year-olds.
“Merchant Navy was a great racehorse, with a top pedigree, and we have a couple of promising young horses by him in the stable,” said David Ellis.
Currently in commission at the stables, Our Milly Bee (3 f Merchant Navy – Rina Bettina, by Reliable Man) has acted on the whole spectrum of footing and shown very genuine attributes that will stand by her as she matures.
“Our new filly has plenty of maturing to come, but we know how good her brother (Sword of State) was, with the potential to make an impact as a sire, and being able to buy this filly with her residual value in mind was a real bonus,” Ellis said.
“She has a lovely pedigree and we know the family has a motor.”
The filly carries a Danehill cross through the sire line of Merchant Navy and dam-line of In The Vanguard.
A 10% share is approx. NZ$14,700
A 5% share is approx. NZ$7,350
A 2.5% share is approx. NZ$3,675