French Navy does it again

French Navy has been a wonderful campaigner for his sire Shamardal, winning at Black type level in every season he has raced. On 1 November, the six-year-old was showing no signs of slowing down as he swept up the Rowley Mile to take the Listed Ben Marshall Stakes for the second time in three years.

Settled off the pace early on in the one-mile contest under Adam Kirby, the Godolphin entire had to weave through the field as they began to quicken for home, and picking up superbly once he hit the front, outbattled Fire Ship to win by a neck, with almost three lengths back to Bronze Angel in third.

A Darley homebred, French Navy is out of the Stakes-winning Woodman mare First Fleet, also dam of fellow Group winner Sea Lord (Cape Cross).

Shamardal, one of the world’s leading stallions by earnings this year, has enjoyed a superb 2014 highlighted by G1 winners Mukhadram, Baltic Baroness and Dunboyne Express. He will stand at Kildangan Stud in 2015 at a fee of €70,000 October 1st Special live foal.