Starspangledbanner (Aus)

Coolmore's G3 Prestige Stakes and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Precise (Starspangledbanner) added to her impressive palmares with a stunning performance in Friday's G1 bet365 Fillies' Mile, dominating the latter stages to register a 22nd Group 1 success of the season, and a record seventh renewal, for Aidan O'Brien. "She impressed me when she won at the Curragh and I knew she had a good turn of foot," commented Christophe Soumillon. "She was a little bit nervous in the stalls and that's why she missed the jump. I was hoping...

As it had 12 months ago, The Curragh's G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes went to Ballydoyle but not to their first string as Precise (Starspangledbanner) emulated Lake Victoria to emerge best of the stable trio under Ronan Whelan. Like Bedtime Story last year, the even-money favourite Composing (Wootton Bassett) cut out the running but faded late, leaving it to Precise and Beautify (Wootton Bassett) to fight out the finish with the former the stronger by 3/4 of a length. "I didn't jump as cleanly as I would have liked, but she...

Roger Varian's new link-up with Godolphin is paying instant dividends with the promising Avicenna (Starspangledbanner) getting up late to capture Friday's Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster. Held up early by William Buick, the 11-2 shot who had won over course and distance on debut last month delivered a sustained effort down the wing to collar the 5-4 favourite Hankelow (Night Of Thunder) on the line. "He's a lovely horse and I'm very grateful to Sheikh Mohammed and the Godolphin team for supporting me with a few horses this year,"...

Goodwood's G3 Prestige Fillies' Stakes looked a strong contest on paper beforehand and that ultimately played out as the cream rose to the top with Ballydoyle's Precise (Starspangledbanner) enjoying the bragging rights on Sunday. Sent off the 5-2 second favourite for the seven-furlong race which forms part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, the Cork maiden winner tracked the pace under Wayne Lordan before accelerating impressively to get to the front a furlong out. Pressed by Cheveley Park Stud's previously unbeaten 13-8 market-leader Moon Target (Cracksman)...

Godolphin broke new ground when sending Roger Varian their 450,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 sensation Avicenna (Starspangledbanner) and the two-year-old launched the new connection with a promising win on Saturday. Sent off the well-supported 10-11 favourite for Doncaster's seven-furlong novice, the May-foaled chestnut who is connected to the champion juvenile Xaar tracked the early leader Akho Mezzna (More Than Ready) and while it took time for the penny to drop in the closing stages he was firmly in command for a 1 3/4-length success. Smart debut at @DoncasterRaces! 👀 He...

Ana O'Brien made the breakthrough as an owner at Killarney on Wednesday when Group 1 entrant A Boy Named Susie (Starspangledbanner), who is trained by her brother Donnacha, created a big impression to land a race that Derby hero Lambourn was successful in 12 months ago. There was huge significance to Ana's first success as an owner given it came eight years after she suffered a career-ending fall at the track. Lambourn is not the only high-class horse to have emerged victorious from the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race...

Denying a whitewash for Wootton Bassett on The Curragh's Saturday card, Moyglare Stud's homebred Suzie Songs (Starspangledbanner) did the unexpected and upset Ballydoyle's 2-9 favourite Flushing Meadows in the G3 Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey Stakes. For once, Colin Keane was able to get the better of Ryan Moore on the afternoon in the one race that looked least likely. "She's a nice filly with a bit of size and scope and is bred to go further," the winning rider said. "She wants it and seven or a mile...

Even without Albert Einstein, Ballydoyle were able to come up with one to completely dominate another seemingly competitive renewal of Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry Stakes on Tuesday. The colt in question was Starspangledbanner's Gstaad, a half-brother to Vandeek who had beaten the yard's much-vaunted filly True Love on debut at Navan last month and generated enough support here to start as the 7-2 favourite. Always travelling strongly up the centre, the bay who at 450,000gns was the top-priced colt at the 2023 Tattersalls December Foal Sale streaked away from two...

Taking charge at Chantilly on Sunday, Christophe Soumillon supplemented his Diane success with the card's G3 Prix du Lys Longines as Rafale Design capped another stellar afternoon for the Belgian. Coming off a win in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Hocquart last month, the Yann Barberot-trained son of Starspangledbanner was launched from rear to swoop on Surabad (Bated Breath) and Oracle (Too Darn Hot) with 300 metres remaining and assert to beat that duo by two half-length margins. Entered in Monday's London Sale in Goffs, the G1 Grand Prix de Paris entry...

Bouncing back from a disappointing effort when fifth in the G3 Prix Noailles, Starspangledbanner's Rafale Design returned to ParisLongchamp to stamp his class on Thursday's G3 Prix Hocquart. Sent off at 12-1 for the 11-furlong contest, having backtracked on his smart juvenile form last month, Laurent Dassault's colour-bearer was restrained by Christophe Soumillon following a smart break to track the moderate pace. Full of running at every stage, the colt that Yann Barberot described as his "best" took control approaching the furlong pole before asserting for a smooth 1 1/4-length...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), a 450,000gns Tattersalls December foal and half-brother to G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes hero Vandeek (Havana Grey), made a winning debut in Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Navan. The 7-1 chance produced a determined effort to deny stablemate True Love (No Nay Never) by 3/4-of-a-length nearing the line in the six-furlong contest.   NOT the finishing order the market expected 450,000gns Starspangledbanner colt , a half-brother to Vandeek, makes a winning start to his career by getting up late on...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-sister to Darley stallio Space Blues. 2.50 Newmarket, Novice, £40,000, 2yo, f, 6fT DANCE TO THE MUSIC (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a significant newcomer for Charlie Appleby as the 11th foal out of the G2 Challenge Stakes winner Miss Lucifer, whose gift to Godolphin was...