Fifth Stakes win for French Navy

Shamardal's consistent son French Navy won his fifth Stakes race on Saturday May 24 when beating fellow Godolphin owned runner Windhoek (Cape Cross) in the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood. The winner of the G3 Prix des Chenes as a juvenile in 2010, French Navy has now won a Stakes race in every subsequent season.

Bred by Darley, French Navy is out of the Stakes-winning mare First Fleet and a half-brother to Cape Cross' G3-winner Sea Lord. First Fleet also has a full sister yearling filly to French Navy.

Shamardal has now sired 15 Stakes winners in 2014, a figure no other stallion can match. These 15 include G1w Dan Excel, recent winner of the International Cup at Kranji, G2-winners Sommerabend, Excellent Result and Ghibellines and multiple Dubai Classic winner Ihtimal, who was third in the 1,000 Guineas on her last start and now heads to the Oaks at the start of June. Shamardal is standing this season for €50,000 at Kildangan Stud alongside his G1-winning son Casamento (€5,000).