Starspangledbanner (Aus)

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...

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. Monday's Observations features a daughter of dual Classic winner Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 5.05 Naas, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT SIMPLY ASTOUNDING (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is a significant presence in a significant maiden, being the fourth foal out of the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks heroine Minding (Ire) (Galileo...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Lady Claypoole in the Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita earlier in March.   Santa Ana Stakes For Lady Claypoole Abbondanza Racing and Omar Aldabbagh's Lady Claypoole (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) earned her first stakes win in the GIII Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita on Mar. 15 (video). Trained by Richard Baltas, the 5-year-old mare was bred by Aston House Stud. The eighth...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Aterradora at the Fair Grounds. Starspangledbanner Filly Strikes Gold At Fair Grounds Pura Vida Investments' Aterradora (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), second in her first two starts at Fair Grounds in November and January, got off the mark on the first day of February at that track (video). Bred by The Last Partnership, the filly was purchased for 150,000gns out of Book 2 of the Tattersalls...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Duvet Day at Grade III level beneath the Twin Spires.   Duvet Day Breaks Graded Duck In Cardinal Stakes Jane Bacharach, William DeBurgh and Richard Schatz's Duvet Day (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) won the GIII Cardinal Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 28 (video). It was the first graded win for the five-year-old mare and first victory since January of 2023 in the Listed Astra...

Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan's purple patch continued relentlessly at Newmarket on Saturday as Starzintheireyes (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}--Crystal Hope {GB}, by Nathaniel {Ire}) proved the strongest stayer in an attritional renewal of the 10-furlong G3 Palace Pier Zetland Stakes. Runner-up to the subsequent G3 Solario Stakes winner Field Of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) over seven furlongs on debut at the July Festival here, Marc Chan's 160,000gns Tattersalls December Foal purchase had opened his account over that trip at Leicester last month and raced under restraint early at the back with...