The Oaks Stud have confirmed that the highly promising, Coolmore Stud owned U S Navy Flag will return to the southern hemisphere for the 2023 breeding season.

The son of War Front is currently sitting second on the New Zealand 1st Season Sires table, having been represented by five individual 2YO winners in New Zealand, and 22 winners worldwide.

From his New Zealand runners so far, his headline acts include Group 1 performers Aprilia and To Catch A Thief who ran 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes on the 1st April at Awapuni.    U S Navy Flag also sired the 5th placegetter, the Chrissy Bambry trained Chantilly Lace.

To Catch A Thief has been ultra consistent this season for trainers Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall, picking up further stakes placings with a 3rd in the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes, 3rd in the Listed Champagne Stakes and 4th in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes.

The Shane Kennedy & Anna Furlong trained Penvose Lad is another who has shown raw ability winning over 1000m at his second race day start at Riccarton on Saturday, after running 2nd on debut.

With a number of trial winners set to have their first race-day starts over the next few weeks, his tally of individual 2YO winners in New Zealand is expected to increase further before the end of the season.

In the Northern hemisphere, the Wesley Ward trained Love Reigns was a super impressive 3YO winner at Keeneland of the US$250,000 Listed Limestone Stakes on 14th April.   She is now being set for the Group 1 Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

U S Navy Flag has been well supported by New Zealand breeders.  After standing his first two seasons at Valachi Downs in Matamata, he was relocated to The Oaks Stud for his third and fourth Southern Hemisphere seasons. 

U S Navy Flag will stand for an unchanged fee of $15,000 + GST.