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New Zealand stud farm Valachi Downs will import three-time Group One-winning sprinter U.S. Navy Flag for stud duty this spring.
The son of War Front will be the highest rated international sprinter to stand at stud in New Zealand.
U.S. Navy Flag is out of the four-time G1-winning Galileo mare Misty for Me, a champion two-year-old and three-year-old in Ireland.
He is also a brother to three-time G1 winner Roly Poly.
Debuting as an early two-year-old, U.S Navy Flag was victorious in the G3 Round Tower Stakes (1200m) at the Curragh before going on to win the G1 Middle Park Stakes (1200m) and G1 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. He was subsequently crowned Champion 2YO in Europe, Great Britain and Ireland in 2017.
He returned at three to run second in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas (1600m) before taking out his third G1 in the July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket.
He went on to be crowned Champion 3YO Sprinter in Europe, Great Briatin and Ireland.
“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.
“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.
“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.
