WINNER: Naval Command Salutes

Winning on Melbourne Cup Day, Naval Command (3 c Home Affairs – Sea Siren, by Fastnet Rock) resumed with a strong performance in the A$20,000 A1 Tyrepower Maiden 1300 metres on 3 November at Wangaratta (Victoria).

Having fought well for third in his sole start as two-year-old, Naval Command finished solidly from a handy position for third in a jump out on 19 October at Cranbourne, and rated a top three chance first-up.

Ridden by Dylan Dunn, Naval Command went forward to lead from barrier two, managed to steady the tempo, and although confronted by challengers rounding the home turn, he had too much in the tank to record a dominant win.

On Soft6 footing, Naval Command ran 1300 metres in 1:18.3 and justified favouritism to pay $2.20 & $1.20 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was good to see him win at just his second start and fresh-up as a three-year-old,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“Ben (Gleeson) and I had been really happy with his track work and his jump outs leading in. It’s also exciting for the owners to have a winner on Melbourne Cup Day, which is such a big day for racing enthusiasts worldwide.

“Naval Command carries the famous Coolmore colours. They bred and prepared him for sale and also stand Home Affairs, who is doing an incredible job at stud.

“He’s a lovely colt, very kind natured, and he should take a lot of confidence from the win.”

Naval Command was purchased as a yearling by Sir David Ellis, from the draft of Coolmore Stud, at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and carrying the Coolmore colours he is owned by Coolmore, Wynaus, Westerberg, Mr J Poulin, Chris Waller Racing, Mr K MacLennan, Meridian Bloodstock, Marcstown Pty Ltd, Mr R McClure, Glentree Racing, Rockingham Thoroughbreds, Lynque, Lockhart Waller Racing. 

The beautifully bred colt is from the first crop of Champion Australian First Season Sire Home Affairs, a son a Champion Sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), whose best performed progeny, Imperatriz, was also purchased by Ellis as a yearling on the Gold Coast. 

The winner of 10 Group One races, the most for her sire, Imperatriz became the highest rated sprinter in the world, New Zealand Horse of the Year, and Champion Sprinter in Australia. Retired and sold in June 2024 for A$6.6 million, she became the highest priced filly or mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere.

Home Affairs won the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) as a two-year-old at Rosehill, and became Champion 3YO Colt in Australia, after winning the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Black Group 1 Caviar Lightning (1000m), both at Flemington.  

Adding to his stallion credentials of Naval Command, the dam of Home Affairs, Miss Interiors (Flying Spur), is a half-sister to Group One winner and the Leading First Crop Sire for 2021/22 in Australia, Russian Revolution (Snitzel), as well as Group Three winner Turbo Miss (Sebring). 

His dam Sea Siren is a triple Group One winning daughter of Fastnet Rock. The Champion 3YO colt and Champion sprinter in Australia, Fastnet Rock was crowned Champion Sire in Australia, and been Australian Champion Broodmare Sire for the last three seasons.  

Sea Siren, Champion Older Female Sprinter in Ireland, was also a triple Group One sprint winner in Australia: Manikato Stakes (1200m), BTC Cup (1200m), and Doomben 10,000 (1350m). She is a proven broodmare with six individual winners of 13 races, including triple Group One winner Warm Heart (Galileo) and Group-placed winner Celestial Object (Galileo).

In addition, grand-dam Express A Smile is by quality sire Success Express (Hold Your Peace), who is also the dam-sire of eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel).

At the time of purchasing Naval Command, Sir David said: “The colt has a lovely pedigree and obviously Sea Siren was a Champion Sprinter. 

“We have experienced plenty of success with the progeny of Fastnet Rock, none more so than nine-time Group One Avantage, but also realize just what an incredible broodmare sire he’s become.”

Naval Command carries a bloodline cross in his pedigree to breed shaping Champion Sire Danehill (Danzig), through the dam line of Home Affairs and sire line of Sea Siren, as the sire of Fastnet Rock. 

Naval Command was strapped by Adrian Hug.