French Navy back with a bang

French Navy, a lightly-raced but hugely talented five-year-old, won his seventh career race from only 13 starts when making a successful seasonal reappearance in the Listed Midsummer Stakes at Windsor. The son of Shamardal has now won four Stakes races including the G3 Prix des Chenes as a juvenile and the G3 Select Stakes as a three-year-old.

Bred by Darley, French Navy is out of the Stakes-winning mare First Fleet and a half-brother to Cape Cross' G3-winner Sea Lord. First Fleet also has a full sister yearling filly to French Navy.

French Navy becomes Shamardal's tenth Stakes winner of the year, with seven of these coming at Group level. This includes the top-flight winners Dunboyne Express (racing as Dan Excel) and Maybe Discreet, German Classic filly Akua'da, multiple Australian G2-winner Puissance de Lune and Brigadier Gerard Stakes winner Mukhadram, who went so close in the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.