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STARSPANGLEDBANNER is the latest Group One winner to emerge from one of the most successful modern-day families in the stud book.
His dam Gold Anthem is from a half-sister to AJC Oaks winner and Caulfield Cup runner-up Circles Of Gold, whose foals include Elvstroem and Haradasun. One other hefty contributor to the family is Polar Success, the 2003 Golden Slipper winner.
Starspangledbanner's part owner Tony Santic bought Gold Anthem for $40,000 at the 2001 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale. She won two races for him at Balaklava and Cheltenham in between her nose second in the Listed Balcrest Stakes.
"I like the family,'' Santic said. "I remember saying that Ithought we were going to crack one with this and sure enough it happened. "It doesn't always, I must say, but this one happened.'' Gold Anthem's first foal, Gold Chant (by El Moxie), arrived in 2004.
She won five races for Santic, one each at Caulfield, Flemington and Moonee Valley to go with her SAJC Dermody Stakes placing. Gold Chant was served by Choisir recently and will deliver Makybe a three-quarter relation to Starspangledbanner next season.
The mare has a Lonhro colt on her at present. Starspangledbanner was one of the most admired colts at Oaklands Junction when presented by Makybe at the 2008 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. After spirited bidding, thorougbred syndicator Brad Spicer won the day with a bid of $120,000.
"He was my first expensive yearling and I asked Tony Santic to stay in him for 25 per cent at the sales and he did and I had him soldby the time I got home,'' Spicer said.
"When Brad invited me to stay in him for a leg, we shook hands and now he's won the Guineas,'' Santic added. "Brad found 30 other owners and I'm just as happy as every one of them, including the boys that nearly brought the grandstand down."
BY SHAYNE O'CASS - Sportsman