By Sean Cronin
Victorious Forever's 900,000gns Craven Breeze-Up Sale topper Senorita Bonita (Starspangledbanner) entered the mix for this year's Royal Ascot meeting after securing a last-gasp triumph in Wednesday's British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Nottingham.
The straight five-furlong dash has been annexed by a trio of Karl Burke Royal Ascot-bound contenders in recent years.
“Midway through the race, it wasn't looking good,” said Simon Crisford. “We couldn't get the cover that we wanted and I think she's had to do it the hard way. Her turn of foot was exceptional, fast ground will suit her really well and I think she's a filly with plenty of improvement to come. I'd be really enthusiastic about her chances from midsummer onwards.”
Sent off as the 10-11 favourite, the Simon and Ed Crisford trainee broke awkwardly and was caught on the wing through the early strides. Racing greenly and educated into contention by Oisin Murphy once past halfway, she took her time to find top gear and, when doing so, fairly flew home inside the final half-furlong to nail Fast Track (Blue Point) by a short-head on the line.
The winner was put through Craven ring by Mark Flannery, on behalf of Churchtown House Stud's Anne and Michael Gaffney, and knocked down to Anthony Stroud.
👀 900,000gns buy Senorita Bonita (Starspangledbanner) makes a winning debut @NottsRacecourse pic.twitter.com/gD30Y1s445
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 3, 2026
Senorita Bonita, kin to a yearling filly by Modern Games, is the first of two foals produced by an unraced sibling of G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Sub Rose (Galileo), Listed Princess Royal victrix Astonishing (Galileo) and the stakes-placed Shore Break (Footstepsinthesand).
Sub Rose is the dam of the dual Group-winning G1 Champion Stakes third Subway Dancer (Shamardal) and the Group 3 winner Secret Advisor (Dubawi), while Astonishing's quartet of black-type performers includes the Group 3 winner Dr Omran (Palace Pier) and the multiple Group-placed Gold Maze (Golden Horn).
The winner's third dam is the Group 2-winning G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois placegetter Magic Gleam (Danzig).
2nd-Nottingham, £10,000, Mdn, 6-3, 2yo, f, 5f 8yT, 1:01.34, gd.
SENORITA BONITA (IRE) (f, 2, Starspangledbanner {Aus}–Belicious {Ire}, by Ruler Of The World {Ire}) Sales history: 75,000gns RNA Wlg '24 TADEWE; 75,000gns RNA Ylg '25 TATOCT; 900,000gns 2yo '26 TATBRE. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $7,271.
O-Victorious Forever; B-Hawes Stud & Churchtown House Stud; T-Simon & Ed Crisford.
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