3 minute read

Starspangledbanner has sired his fifth stakes winner, adding to the fanfare that is surrounding his return to service at Coolmore Australia this spring following his near-miraculous return to full fertility.

The former champion multiple G1 winner in both hemispheres sired just 33 foals from his first stud season in Ireland and only 30 foals from his first Australian stud season.

But from that first Irish crop the son of Choisir made a stunning start with three winners from his first three runners including the outstanding pair The Wow Signal and Anthem Alexsander.

The Wow Signal, now at stud, won the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and the G1 Prix Morny while Anthem Alexsander won the G2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot and was just beaten in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes.

Another member of that crop Home Of The Brave is a G3 winner and gave Starspangledbaner nearly a 10% ratio of Group winners to foals in that first crop.

Last season in Australia, while standing at Rosemount Stud in Victoria, Starspangledbanner to get 46 mares in foal, showing that his fertility was not a lost cause.

He returned to Ireland this year for the 2016 northern hemisphere season and thanks to diligent management including restricting his book to two coverings per day, Starspangledbanner has succeeded in getting over 90 mares in foal.

It’s an amazing turnaround and Coolmore is confident of an equally-successful southern hemisphere breeding season from the stallion this spring.

Starspangledbanner sired his fifth stakes winner when the Charles Hills-trained Silver Rainbow won the Listed Prix du Cercle at Deauville last weekend.

Silver Rainbow (Starspangledbanner x Enchanting Way, by Linamix) boosted her broodmare value as she is in foal and might run again before she retires to stud.

Starspangledbanner won the G1 Caulfield Guineas and Oakleigh Plate in Melbourne before he was sold to Coolmore and campaigned successfully in Europe, winning the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the G1 July Cup at Newmarket.

His current star in Australia is Mr Individual (Starspangledbanner x She’s Alluring, by Lure), who was the most expensive colt from his first Australian crop of foals when sold for $240,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale.

Mr Individual, a half-brother to G1 placed Fast And Sexy, has won four of his 10 starts earning over $184,000 in prizemoney.