By Sean Cronin
The John Oxley-owned Star Prospect (Starman), Joseph O'Brien's first juvenile runner of the year, made a stylish winning debut in Sunday's Arizona Blaze Standing At The Irish National Stud Irish EBF Race at the Curragh.
“He had been showing plenty of natural speed at home and it's always nice when your first two-year-old runner runs well,” said O'Brien. “He was green enough and off the bridle, but I thought he was very impressive to the line. It's all speed and I don't think he'd be going further than five [furlongs] at the moment. I think he's a horse that's made for the [G2] Norfolk, or something like that. I think he'll have a run before now and then, something like the [May 4 Listed] First Flier back here.”
Patiently ridden in fifth through halfway, the 9-2 chance quickened smartly between rivals with 150 yards remaining en route to an ultimately comfortable 1 1/4-length success from Carry The Flag (No Nay Never).
Star Prospect is the latest of eight foals and fifth scorer out of a winning half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Swiss Diva (Pivotal), G3 World Trophy victor Swiss Spirit (Invincible Spirit), the multiple stakes-winning Swiss Dream (Oasis Dream) and the multiple Group 2-placed Swiss Franc (Mr. Greeley).
Swiss Diva is the dam of Listed Criterium de Vitesse victrix Poetry (Kingman), while Swiss Dream produced G3 Hackwood Stakes-winning sire Yafta (Dark Angel).
The winner's second dam is dual stakes-winning G2 Flying Childers runner-up Swiss Lake (Indian Ridge).
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€135,000 purchase Star Prospect (Starman) makes a successful start for @JosephOBrien2 and @joeysheridan8 ✅@IrishNatStud | @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/G7l8XhrPur
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 19, 2026
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