Navy Ensign seeking breakthrough win

[Wandering Eyes]

Promising three-year-old Navy Ensign (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) will be seeking to break through for an elusive maiden victory when he heads to Te Aroha on Wednesday to contest the Taylor Perry Insurance NZB Mega Maiden (1150m).

The son of U S Navy Flag was initially purchased as a pinhook prospect by part-owner David Archer out of Haunui Farm’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft for $47,500, but was retained after he failed to meet his $60,000 reserve at the Ready To Run sale later that year.

It has proven to be a blessing for Archer, with the talented youngster showing plenty of talent on the track in his four starts to date, where he has finished runner-up to a string of exciting athletes, headlined by his debut vanquisher Well Written, who has gone on to remain unbeaten in her subsequent four outings, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) and Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).

“He has got to be the best maidener in the country,” trainer Murray Thompson said. “The horses beating him, you have got to look at the form behind them, it is just unreal.

“In his debut behind Well Written, we were three and four wide, we had the toughest run in the race that day and it was a really good run.

“We didn’t have much luck in our third start (behind Lyin’ Eyes), we were three-wide the trip, and last start (behind Khaleesi) we rode him upside down, we wanted to take luck out of the equation, it didn’t suit him plus he was feeling the ground.”

Thompson was also buoyed by the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) result at Te Rapa last Saturday, which was contested by both Khalessi and Golden Wings, and was taken out by That’s Gold.

“That’s Gold won the race and he was behind us in our second start, so the form stacks up,” he said.

Navy Ensign has enjoyed a freshen-up following his last start over 1400m at Tauranga in December and Thompson said he has thrived over the short break.

“I gave him a couple of weeks off after Tauranga, he was just feeling the track a little bit,” he said. “The two weeks off has just done him so good, he has come back really well.

“His work on Saturday was very good, so we are expecting a good run as usual.”

Navy Ensign will jump from barrier eight with regular rider Matthew Cameron in the saddle.

Stakes assignments are looming for the gelding after Wednesday, but they will be determined by his fresh-up performance.

“I have pencilled in the Wellington Guineas (Gr.2, 1600m), but if he won and won well I would probably look at headquarters (Ellerslie) on Saturday week in the Uncle Remus (Gr.3, 1400m), but he would have to win to warrant going there.”

Archer’s colours are expected to be prominent at Ellerslie a fortnight later when Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) contests the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and Thompson said they could also feature on the undercard, with the Pukekohe horseman eyeing the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m) with Navy Ensign.

“There is a $100,000 three-year-old race on Champions Day that would be an option as well,” he said.

Thompson believes Navy Ensign has a bright future and said there is still plenty of improvement to come from the gelding.

“He is going to get better with time,” he said. “He put on muscle and a little bit of weight in the two weeks off. In six months to a year he is going to be doing wonders.”

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