Starspangledbanner

TATTERSALLS, ENGLAND - Godolphin paid the ultimate compliment to unbeaten juvenile Avicenna by spending 900,000gns on his full-sister on day two of the Book 2 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.  The Starspangledbanner filly was bred by Sue Ann Foley and described by the Islanmore Stud manager Nigel Anderton as "a queen". It was Anthony Stroud, bidding on behalf of Godolphin, who saw off the attention of bloodstock agent Ed Sackville as underbidder. That purchase took Godolphin's total spend between Book 1 and 2 to over 20 million gns. Stroud said, "She...

The Coolmore partners' G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Precise (Starspangledbanner) has been awarded a mark of 113p by Timeform for her Newmarket heroics. She leads the rankings for her age and sex, with Aidan O'Brien stablemate and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner True Love (No Nay Never) is second at 111. G1 Prix Morny victress Venetian Sun (Starman) is third for Karl Burke at 110p, while another O'Brien runner, G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) is fourth at 109p. Group winner and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes second...

Staton Flurry has not let a disastrous first foray into purchasing a Royal Ascot runner stand in his way of ticking off what he describes as 'a bucket list experience' with the leading American-based owner having worked out a deal for Albany Stakes contender Oh Cecelia (Starspangledbanner) on the eve of the meeting.  Flurry may have left it late to guarantee his participation as an owner at this year's meeting but it's nothing compared to last year. After securing the Jack Davison-trained Take Me To Church at the Goffs London...

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-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Vandeek. 2.35 Naas, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT Besides Ballydoyle buzz horse Albert Einstein (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Aidan O'Brien will also saddle GSTAAD (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), a 450,000gns Tattersalls December purchase who is a half-brother to the G1...

Fozzy Stack shares his loathing of the limelight, quest for finding a good horse and more There is a famous quote attributed to Benjamin Disraeli that says, "talk to a man about himself, and he will listen for hours." Poor old Benjamin clearly never spent a morning in the company of Fozzy Stack-a man who is nothing short of allergic to any form of self praise or adulation.  For the best part of 25 years, Fozzy has sent out a raft of high-class winners for some of the biggest names...

Haras de Beaumont has welcomed the G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) to its stallion roster for 2025. He will stand for a fee of €8,500 at the Normandy farm alongside Arc winner Ace Impact (Ire), Intello (Ger), Sealiway (Fr), and Stunning Spirit (GB). The Chehboub family, owners of Haras de Beaumont, purchased a 50 per cent share in the three-year-old from his owner-breeder Alain Jathiere back in July. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, Puchkine was unbeaten in three races as a juvenile and won five of his...

One of the first indicators as to how strong the middle tiers of the European yearling market will be this autumn was provided at the V2 session of the August Sale at Arqana where a Starspangledbanner (Aus) filly led the way at €115,000 when sold to Arthur Hoyeau. The filly was consigned by Charles Brière's Fairway Consignment and was one of only two yearlings to break the six-figure barrier, the other being a Siyouni (Fr) filly that was sold to Nicolas de Watrigant on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing for...

St Mark's Basilica (Fr), Churchill (Ire), Starspangledbanner (Aus) and Wootton Bassett (GB) have been confirmed on the Coolmore Australia roster for 2024, although a fee has yet to be revealed for the latter. Wootton Bassett stood for $93,500 and covered 131 mares in 2023, which included Group 1 winners Srikandi and Spright. His return down under has been eagerly-anticipated and he will spearhead the travelling contingent.  "We are delighted to be able to confirm that Wootton Bassett is returning in 2024," Tom Magnier said. "He is now having his first...

The successful dual-hemisphere stallion Starspangledbanner (Aus), the sire of recent G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup winner and G1 Al Quoz Sprint aspirant California Spangle (Ire), supplied the HK$5.4 million (£541,837/US$690,352) top price as the last of 14 horses through the ring during Friday's Hong Kong International Sale in the parade ring at Sha Tin Racecourse. Lot 20 was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club from the draft of Chasemore Farm for 550,000gns during Book 2 at Tattersalls October in 2022. The British-bred 3-year-old is a full-brother to the treble...

Top breeze-up handlers Antonio Da Silva and Nikki Scallan of A&N Bloodstock had a lucky escape on Friday evening when, the horse box that they were driving on the way home from Dundalk races caught fire with the Jenny Lynch-trained Late Night Talking (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) inside it.  But for their quick thinking, the couple's Late Night Talking, who had finished third in the mile maiden just a few hours earlier, could have met a horrific end when the vehicle burst into flames on the M50 motorway in Dublin.  Sharing...

Kelly Thomas enjoyed a banner year with Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who she bred at her Maywood Stud, going unbeaten in a spellbinding two-year-old campaign that featured Group 1 wins in the Prix Morny and Middle Park S.  In this week's Q&A, Thomas revealed how some people in the industry have shared with her that she has become an inspiration for smaller breeders. She also lifted the lid on her own hopes and dreams for Vandeek this season and explained her philosophy to breeding.  You have had lots to...

Friday marked a breakout result for five-time Group 1-winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) as a filly by Coolmore's freshman sire out of the Oaks winner Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) topped the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls on 575,000gns. The aggregate fell 11% compared to this day 12 months ago to 17,943,000gns while the clearance rate climbed 7% to 87%. The average fell 13% to 95,952gns and the median dipped 9% to 62,000gns. It was bloodstock agent Jill Lamb, bidding on behalf of Newsells Park Stud, who came out on...