Brave’ Prelude winner for Starspangledbanner

Starspangledbanner (Aus) (Choisir {Aus})’s first northern hemisphere crop of juveniles was at the races in 2014 and lifted some outstanding results, despite only comprising 17 runners. The stallion endured fertility issues during his ‘first’ stud career at Coolmore in Ireland and had only 33 foals on the ground, yet 10 of these won at two and they included the G1 Prix Morny hero The Wow Signal (Ire) as well as G2 Queen Mary S. scorer Anthem Alexander (Ire). In Australia, where the flashy chestnut shuttled before being sent back to Ballydoyle, Of The Brave (Aus) provided Starspangledbanner with a first Stakes trophy when taking the listed Debutant S. first time out, Oct. 11. Yesterday at Caulfield, the Mark Riley-trained juvenile doubled up with a narrow win in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude S. for colts and geldings, opening his sire’s Group account in his home country.

Of The Brave had to live up to his name to prevail in the 1100 meter-contest as the four-month break seemed to be taking its toll in the dying strides following a front-running ride, yet the colt dug deep to hold off Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s fast-finishing Pride Of Dubai (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), with Godolphin’s Sampeah (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) checking in third. Bought for A$170,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale, Of The Brave is a three-parts brother to the Group 3-winning sprinter Eloping (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), who was unplaced in the G2 Rubiton S. on the same card. 

“He’s won two from two so has earned his place in the Blue Diamond,” said Riley, who was recently found guilty of administering the prohibited substance TCO2 to one of his runners and faces a three-year suspension. “He was vulnerable today. I said if he was going to get beaten, today would be the day,” the trainer continued.
“He needed that hard run to top him off and he’s going into the Blue Diamond on the way up. He’s really matured since the Debutant Stakes and just keeps going forward.” Riley’s penalty hearing in front of the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board has been set for Feb. 24, four days before the running of the G1 Blue Diamond S.

Starspangledbanner retired to stud for a second time in 2013, on the back of a lackluster return to competition. He covered 93 mares at Rosemont Stud last season before relocating to Coolmore Australia. Although he won’t be shuttling to Ireland this term, it was recently announced that he would serve norther hemisphere time at a fee of A$27,500.