Placed at his first two starts at Newcastle and Warwick Farm and a last start fourth at Canterbury, the $1,800,000 Easter Yearling Sale-topper Naval Seal, ventured to Ballarat on Sunday to break his maiden over 1600m.
Ridden by Craig Williams for Chris Waller, Naval Seal tracked the leader For Ari before taking control of the race on the home turn.
The favourite Jenniferenti (Fiorente) chased in vain and could get no closer than five and a half lengths at the finish with a further on and three-quarter length back to Americain Heart (Americain) in third.
Carrying the colours of Coolmore’s Derick Smith and racing for a group of prominent breeders, Naval Seal has already been gelded.
The son of Snitzel is the first foal of Fastnet Rock’s Champion Female Sprinter 2015 -15, First Seal.
Craig Williams said the blueblood is in at the right time of year.
“He is bred in the purple and has obviously been a work,” Williams said.
“He has nice ability but is very raw. I could feel that today. I saw it in his replays, but there is no doubt he will derive a good deal of confidence from a win.
“He is still developing and has more in store, especially for a 3yo at this time of year.
“He can handle cut in the ground but has never been on a firm track. I believe they are looking forward to seeing him start on a firm track, and I don’t believe he is just a wet tracker.
“He is an exciting horse for the future.”
Tom Magnier had the final say at $1,800,000 for Naval Seal when consigned by Sledmere Stud to the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Bred by China Horse Club, Naval Seal is the first foal of First Seal who carried the China Horse Club colours after her purchase by Bart Cummings for $700,000 from the Curraghmore Stud draft at Karaka in 2013.
Trained by John Thompson, the daughter of Fastnet Rock defeated Winx in the Group 1 ATC Flight Stakes and Winx and Earthquake in the Group II Tea Rose Stakes.
She also had Group II wins in the Surround Stakes and Tristarc Stakes, and the Group III Millie Fox Stakes while banking $1,259,060.
Hawkes Racing bought an I Am Invincible colt out of First Seal for $500,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
He has been named Golden Age and will carry the colours of Allen Bell and is another that has been gelded early.
After foaling a Zoustar colt last spring, First Seal visited Snitzel.
