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Australia’s latest global superhero Starspangledbanner took the next step in his international career with a tenacious win overnight in the Group One Darley July Cup at Newmarket defeating seasoned Group One sprinter Equiano and Aussie mare Alverta, who ran a gallant third.
Ridden a bold race by Johnny Murtagh, Starspangledbanner (pictured courtesy UK RAcing Post )was able to avenge the defeat of his sire Choisir, who finished second in this race to Oasis Dream back in 2003.
Starspangledbanner had beaten a brilliant field in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on his previous outing and on Friday he fought off Equiano, himself the Group One King’s Stand Stakes winner, to land the six-furlong contest in 1m 09.81s, fractionally outside the course record of 1m 09.50s.
Speaking after the race, trainer Aidan O’Brien emphasised that Starspangledbanner was unlike any other horse to have passed through his hands.
“It is very unusual for a horse to have so much speed but to be so courageous at the same time. He runs all the way and is unbelievably tenacious. He is very brave,” said O’Brien.
“All the signs showed us that he had improved since Royal Ascot and in his last piece of work, he covered four furlongs in 45 seconds. He is just an incredible horse.
“When he first came to Ballydoyle, we couldn’t believe he had won over a mile in Australia. He was an incredible horse before we got him and we have been privileged to have him.
“There was more pressure today than at Royal Ascot - there was more for us to lose - although we felt he had come forward since Ascot and Colm who rides him every day felt he was in good order.
“Mentally this horse is just brilliant. His reflexes are amazing. He just comes out of the gates and goes into top gear. His reflex muscles are just so fast - I think it must be genetic.
“From day one, we knew he was a very different sort of horse. I just couldn’t believe he had won over a mile in Australia, as he has quarter horse-type speed.”
Winning rider Johnny Murtagh added: “Not many horses complete the Ascot/Newmarket double and you need to be tough and resilient. This lad has got that - he’s got plenty of guts, he’s hardy - and he’s got loads of speed.
“I thought that going to the far rail would help my horse - they wouldn’t be all getting a lead off me so they had to make their own minds up. It was a nice move and probably helped win the race.
“He kicks well. Some Australian horses don’t come up the hill well but this lad does. He’s brave, hardy and thank God he has won again.”
Now raced by a syndicate of Coolmore partners including Michael Tabor in whose blue and orange colours he races, Starspangledbanner was a $120,000 purchase at the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne and has won eight of 15 starts, four of them at Group One level.
Bred and offered for sale by Makybe, Starspangledbanner is the third foal of stakes-placed Gold Anthem, whose dam National Song is a half-sister to Group One AJC Australian Oaks winner Circles of Gold, renowned as the dam of champion racehorses Elvstroem and Haradasun, so he certainly has a stallions pedigree.
Gold Anthem (pictured) has a two year-old filly by Royal Academy (USA), a yearling filly by Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), a weanling colt from the first crop of Makybe’s young sire Purrealist and was covered by Redoute’s Choice last spring.
The big question now is will he continue racing or return to Australia for stud duties and for that we’ll leave the last word to Aidan O’Brien.
“He originally came over for Ascot and then he was going back to Australia for the covering season, but everyone agreed to leave him here after his Ascot win. We now have to debate on his future, if he’s going back to Australia he has to go back into quarantine tonight,” he said.
Tara Madgwick - Breednet