Group 1 Winner Merchant Navy Retired to Stud

Merchant Navy, who proved himself among the best sprinters in the world when winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, has been retired to stud, Coolmore Stud announced June 29.

An unbeaten stakes winner at 2 and a group 1 winner in Australia, Merchant Navy had only been with new trainer Aidan O'Brien since April after transferring from the Australian barn of Aaron Purcell. The son of Fastnet Rock prepped for his Royal Ascot outing with a victory in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (G2) at the Curragh last month and was in top form for what would go down as his final career start.

The Diamond Jubilee Stakes saw Merchant Navy come from off the pace under jockey Ryan Moore to challenge leader Bound for Nowhere entering the final furlong and then turn back a late surge from City Light to prevail by a short head.

"He's a very special horse," O'Brien said. "For a 3-year-old to come up from Australia and win like he did at the Curragh and then at Royal Ascot while being weighted as an older horse is remarkable. He was actually 12 pounds wrong in the Diamond Jubilee. Only a horse with such natural speed and wonder temperament like he has could do it."

Merchant Navy retires with seven wins from 10 starts. He will enter quarantine in Ireland before traveling to Coolmore Australia to begin stud duties.

"Merchant Navy's amazing win at Royal Ascot means he retires to stud as one of the best sprinting colts of modern times," said Coolmore Australia's Tom Magnier. "We are very excited about his stallion prospects as he was such a brilliant 3-year-old sprinter just like his sire, Fastnet Rock, and grandsire, Danehill."