The Oaks purchase U S Navy Flag

[Wandering Eyes]

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 (NZ) won in good fashion at Avondale on Saturday, while Chantilly Lace (NZ) trounced her rivals in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui to become the stallion’s first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner.

“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.”

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.

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