HIGHCLERE AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE
HIGHCLERE AUSTRALIA MEDIA RELEASE
Naval College joins the Highclere Australia team
Highclere Australia's long-standing connection with the royal family has entered an exciting new phase with Naval College approaching his first public hitout for the country’s most promising trainer Annabel Neasham.
Naval College, bred and raced by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, became the second-last winner of her lifetime when he scored by a widening four lengths at Lingfield in August.
His win also marked the final time that champion jockey Ryan Moore rode a winner for Queen Elizabeth, capping a partnership that included big-race wins with Estimate, Carlton House and Naval College’s sire Dartmouth.
“The late Queen was as influential a figure in world racing as we have seen in recent years and her legacy on the racetrack will live on for a long time to come,” Herbert said. “She was a tremendous supporter of Highclere and it was always one of our biggest goals to win in her presence at Royal Ascot.
“Her Majesty even raced a champion filly named Highclere, who was a 1000 Guineas winner here in the 1970s but has had an international impact as a broodmare. Her descendants include champions like Nashwan, Deep Impact and Baaeed as well as Australian Group 1 winners My Kingdom Of Fife, Shraaoh and Nimalee, so there are many strong links between Queen Elizabeth and Highclere.
“We are thrilled to have secured Naval College for our owners and we believe that they will have plenty of fun with him. It is not every day that we get the opportunity to tap into the royal bloodlines and so this is a rare and exciting opportunity for all of us.”
Naval College’s arrival comes on the back of a hugely successful spring for the operation down under, led by Durston's incredible victory in the world's richest mile and a half handicap, the Caulfield Cup.
Naval College is by Queen Elizabeth's Group 2 winner Dartmouth out of Selkirk mare Sequence, who was gifted to Her Majesty by another of the world's most prominent breeders, the Aga Khan. Sequence is a half-sister to Sinndar, winner of the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2000.
Regally bred in both human and equine terms, Naval College has the ability and a turn of foot to match his pedigree.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute in the UK, he had four starts, improving with every outing to record a sensational victory at his first start at 2400m in August.
Identified as the ideal type for Australia, he has joined the country's most promising trainer Annabel Neasham. From a rating in the low 70s, he will have the opportunity to race his way through the grades before eventually targeting black type staying races this time next year.
From just 28 horses to race in the Highclere colours in Australia, two - Durston and Opinion - have developed into Group 1 winners while Bartholomeu Dias, Great House and Libran are also stakes winners down under.
For every start that a Highclere horse has had in Australia, they have earned on average $28,000.
For more information on Naval College, click here.
Highclere contact: Sarah Moran | 0421 998 008 | Sarah.Moran@engagedigitalpartners.com.au