The history-making racing profile of champion sprinter U S Navy Flag (USA) (War Front) is backed by a bluechip pedigree and exquisite damline rich with international bluebloods, bolstering his appeal as he begins his new stud career at Valachi Downs this season.
A son of Group 1 winner Misty for Me (IRE), the Galileo (IRE) mare notched up back-to-back Group 1 wins at two while adding a further two Group 1 scores to her record at three. She was crowned Champion 2YO Filly in France and Ireland and Champion 3YO Filly in Ireland.
Galileo’s influence is not only felt as a sire but also as a broodmare sire with his daughters producing 143 stakes winners including 27 individual Group 1 winners. He was the leading broodmare sire in Ireland, and second-leading broodmare sire in Great Britain, in 2018. He was also among the top six in Australia last season, thanks to the likes of Group 1 winners The Autumn Sun, Invincibella and Winning Ways.
Misty for Me is among his best producing mares, having passed her speed and precocity to her progeny with U S Navy Flag one of three Group-winning offspring.
Her first foal Cover Song (USA) was a Group 3 winner by Fastnet Rock, while her second foal Roly Poly (USA), a full brother to U S Navy Flag, was the winner of three Group 1 features at three.
With Roly Poly and U S Navy Flag both trained by Aidan O’Brien, the duo were stablemates at the time of the latter’s Group 1 Middle Park-Dewhurst double victory. U S Navy Flag completed the Newmarket Triple Crown when adding the Group 1 July Cup at three, while at the same time emulating his dam’s status of being titled a champion at both two and three.
Like Misty for Me, her dam Butterfly Cove (USA) is also by a dominant sire of his generation in Storm Cat (USA). He had a long reign as the leading broodmare sire in America up until 2013 and still remains among the top 10 today with 284 stakes winners. Highlighting the dominance and quality of his genetic influence, these stakes winners have included no less than 43 individual Group 1 winners.
While Butterfly Cove was unraced, her pedigree is rich in black-type so it wasn’t surprising that she produced three stakes winners.
In addition to the aforementioned Misty for Me, Butterfly Cove produced Group 1 winner and Champion 2YO Filly in France, Ballydoyle (IRE), as well as stakes winner Twirl (IRE). All three stakes-winning fillies are by Galileo, proving a very successful cross.
U S Navy Flag’s third generation dam Mr. P’s Princess (USA) upholds the exceptional damline, being the producer of Champion 2YO in Europe Fasliyev (USA). The dual Group 1 winner is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Kamarinskaya (USA) who is also by Storm Cat, making her a full sister to Butterfly Cove.
Mr. P’s Princess has had just 45 runners descend from her to date, with five achieving Group 1 success, showing the depth and quality of this female family.
Although many decades have passed since the birth of Mr. P’s Princess’ sire Mr. Prospector, his line is enduring and continues to enrich bloodstock around the globe. Through his daughters, he is the broodmare sire of 381 stakes winners including 46 individual Group 1 winners.
With these generations of genetic power built up in the pedigree of U S Navy Flag, he presents breeders with a wonderful opportunity to access this strength and utilise it in their mating plans this year.