Merchant Navy 2YO Salutes on Debut

Media Release - Sunday September 22

Cody Cole had been quietly confident heading into Saturday’s Pilet Contracting LTD / Pioneer Seeds 2YO 800 with Landlock, and the debutant duly delivered in an exciting juvenile contest at Wanganui.

The first of three wins on the card for jockey Kelly Myers, Landlock entered the race without an official trial and was slightly reserved leaving the barriers, but showed plenty of early clip to get on terms with race-favourite Princess Elsa ($3.30) before the home turn.

Landlock (inside) stretches out to win Saturday’s Pilet Contracting LTD / Pioneer Seeds 2YO 800 at Wanganui.   Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The pair went head-to-head in the straight and the filly looked like she may be on the front foot at the 150m, before Landlock fought back and found enough in the final strides to score by just a nose.

Advertisement

Cole, who trains the son of Merchant Navy out of Matamata, was pleased to see his work in training transfer to race-day in such impressive fashion.

“It was a really good effort, he hasn’t done a lot or had a trial, so he was very professional,” Cole said.

“Ability probably took him a fair way there yesterday as well, he wasn’t screwed down to win a half-mile race for sure.

“We just took him along quietly and every time we asked him to quicken up his work or step up, he’s done that. On Tuesday morning, we galloped him on the grass with an older horse and he worked really well, good enough to probably win if he did everything right.

“He did exactly that, so it’s lucky it worked out and Kelly rode him well.”

Purchased for $20,000 out of Woburn Farm’s Book 2 draft at the Karaka Yearling Sales in January, Landlock is eligible for the $1m Karaka Millions 2YO  (1200m) early next year, a race Cole will plan around over the coming months.

“He’s a Karaka Million-nominated horse and eligible, so hopefully he can work his way to there,” Cole said.

“We’ve got plenty of time up our sleeve and he’s got plenty of improvement and figuring out what he’s really doing between now and then.

“We’ll give him a little break to get over this, how long that’s going to be, I’m not sure. He’s had a big long trip down there and he’s a tired wee fella today, so he can have a break before we work out where we go from here.”

Bred by Katom, Landlock is the fourth foal out of Blue Blue Sky, a Lonhro mare who produced Listed juvenile winner Bright Blue Sky.

“He was well-related and just a neat little type, he looked like he wouldn’t take too long to get up and going and we wanted to find a horse that we could do that with,” Cole said.

“We wanted to get him out there quickly for the owners and he’s done exactly that, so it’s worked out very well.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for Merchant Navy

Merchant Navy in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Pilet Contracting Ltd / Pioneer Seeds 2yo Swp 800m

Wanganui Track: Heavy(10) Time: 0:49.44
1
Landlock
- 2g Merchant Navy (AUS) x Blue Blue Sky (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C W Cole Rdr: K A Myers 57
NZB Karaka Book 2 $20,000
Seller: Woburn Farm
Buyer: CW Cole Racing
Inglis Australian Weanling Sale $0
Seller: Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains
Buyer: Passed in - $ 30,000
2
0.1
Princess Elsa
- 2f Frosted (USA) x Society Lady (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: W F Pinn 55
NZB Karaka Book 2 $21,000
Seller: Blandford Lodge
Buyer: Brewers Bloodstock
3
3.4
Almakeitgood
- 2f Ardrossan (AUS) x Cortado (NZ) (Sepoy (AUS))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: K R Hercock 55
NZB Karaka Book 1 $90,000
Seller: Elsdon Park
Buyer: Mr SA Sharrock
4
4.2
Luminance
- 2f Time Test (GB) x Brilliant Glow (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: P Pertab Rdr: Joe Doyle 55
5
4.3
Ensign Aria
- 2f U S Navy Flag (USA) x Maneo Invictus (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: C Dell 55
More Reading...
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.