Starspangledbanner (Aus)

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,...

At the culmination of the battle of the Ballydoyle starlets in Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, there was a dramatic if not entirely unexpected turnaround of this month's Newmarket Classic form as Precise (Starspangledbanner) held sway in some style at The Curragh. As last year's Fillies' Mile and Moyglare winner swooped on True Love (No Nay Never) en route to an emphatic 2 1/2-length success, she put her 1,000 Guineas eclipse firmly behind her to complete a remarkable weekend Classic double for her initially subfertile sire and make it...

Gaining handsome compensation for his defeat in the 2,000 Guineas, Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) dominated Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas with a genuine tour de force at The Curragh. Covering the mile in race-record time which eclipsed the previous best of Desert Prince's in 1998, Ballydoyle's 4-11 favourite turned the screw from two out to beat Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder) by three lengths. Godolphin's other runner Pacific Avenue (Dubawi) was a further length away in third. "It was very straightforward," Ryan Moore said. "We didn't go that quick early, but...

Ballydoyle's crack three-year-old Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) will face nine rivals in Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at The Curragh. Following the expected withdrawals of the stable's Group 1 winners Puerto Rico and Hawk Mountain, the 2,000 Guineas runner-up will have only Neolithic (Sioux Nation) for company with the Rosegreen duo drawn in eight and 10 respectively. Godolphin's Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder), who was third at Newmarket, will be partnered by that Classic's winning rider Billy Loughnane in the absence of the suspended William Buick and departs from stall six, while...

Up to a mile for the first time in Monday's G3 Coolmore Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes at The Curragh, Annemarie O'Brien's Kensington Lane (Starspangledbanner) toughed it out to provide Donnacha with a live Irish 1,000 Guineas contender. Seventh behind True Love in Leopardstown's Priory Belle last month, the homebred granddaughter of Ramruma (Diesis) raced near the pace before being committed by Chris Hayes approaching two out. Hassled all the way to the line, the 14-1 shot got there 3/4 of a length in front of last year's Weld...

Ballydoyle's Precise (Starspangledbanner) will face 18 peers in Sunday's G1 Betfred 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, with Ryan Moore set to partner the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Fillies' Mile winner for the first time. She is drawn two for the mile Classic, with one of her chief rivals Venetian Sun (Starman) next door in stall one furthest away from the stands' rail. Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Prix Morny winner is one of two in the race for Karl Burke, with her regular rider Clifford Lee maintaining the partnership. Burke's other runner...

Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) will face 14 rivals as he carries the silks of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid in Saturday's G1 Betfred 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Unbeaten at two, the George Boughey-trained G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner is the current favourite under Billy Loughnane who is looking for a first Classic victory, with that position at the head of the market not guaranteed now that Ballydoyle and Godolphin's plans are confirmed. Bow Echo was drawn on the wing in 15 nearest the stand's rail, the position of last...

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...