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Matamata Stud Farm Valachi Downs will welcome three-time Group One-winning sprinter U.S. Navy Flag to their stallion roster for the forthcoming breeding season.
“There has never been a sprinter of this elite-level stand at stud in New Zealand, let alone with the incredible pedigree U.S. Navy Flag possesses,” Valachi Downs General Manager Jonathan Scully said.
“We are beyond delighted to offer this precocious speed sire to breeders.”
A son of top international sire War Front, U.S. Navy Flag is out of a four-time Group One-winning daughter of Galileo, Misty for Me, a Champion two-year-old and three-year-old in Ireland. He is also a brother to three-time Group One winner Roly Poly.
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 Briatin and Ireland.
Upon retirement to Coolmore Ireland, trainer Aidan O’Brien described U.S. Navy Flag as a brilliant racehorse with a tremendous will to win.
“Speed is his biggest attribute, but his heart is his next biggest,” he said. “He never lies down and is an amazing horse.”
The arrival of U.S. Navy Flag to Valachi Downs highlights the commitment of the farm to accessing the best bloodlines in the world.
“I recently traveled to Coolmore to physically inspect U.S. Navy Flag and can describe him as the epitome of a Danzig-line sprinter. He is strong, neat and correct, the same dark-bay colour as his sire War Front and grandsire Danzig,” Scully said.
“He will add an enormous injection of high quality speed to our broodmare population.”
After covering a full book in his maiden season at Coolmore Ireland, U.S. Navy Flag will shuttle to New Zealand to commence the 2019 season at a fee of NZ$20,000+GST. – NZ Racing Desk
