By Sean Cronin
Jane Newett's Barnwell Boy (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}–Frilly {GB}, by Frankel {GB}) became the latest juvenile to stake a claim for Royal Ascot with a taking debut success in Friday's William Hill/British EBF Novice S. over six furlongs at Goodwood. The contest has become a useful yardstick having thrown high-class winners in the past, with Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) annexing the 2017 renewal and Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) winning last year's edition.
Barnwell Boy, a Charlie Johnston trainee, broke sharply and seized an immediate lead. Holding sway throughout, the 5-1 chance was nudged along passing the quarter-mile marker and surged clear, despite drifting left, under mild coaxing inside the final furlong to easily outclass Packard (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by an impressive 4 1/2 lengths. He is the fourth TDN Rising Star for Starspangledbanner, whose honour roll includes multiple Group 1-placed sprinter Flotus (Ire).
“He's not very big, but he's pretty sharp and was ready to go,” said Mark Johnston. “We didn't know what to expect first-time-out as we didn't know what we were up against. Oisin [Murphy] came in and said he's very fast and that he was quite impressed. I suppose, on pedigree, he's not one we'd have thought as an out-and-out five-furlong horse. We'll have to go home and maybe think that way now. With any 2-year-old winner at this time of year, you always have to be thinking is this a [Royal] Ascot, or not. Maybe we'll be thinking about the [Listed] Windsor Castle now.”
Barnwell Boy is the first of two foals produced by an unraced daughter of three-time G3 Summer S. victrix Ladies Are Forever (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}), herself a full-sister to dual G1 Haydock Sprint Cup third Hoof It (GB). The January-foaled homebred chestnut is a half-brother to a weanling filly by Kingman (GB).
1st-Goodwood, £15,000, Nov, 5-26, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.09, gd.
BARNWELL BOY (GB), c, 2, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Frilly (GB), by Frankel (GB)
2nd Dam: Ladies Are Forever (GB), by Monsieur Bond (Ire)
3rd Dam: Forever Bond (GB), by Danetime (Ire)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £7,851. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O/B-Jane Newett (GB); T-Charlie Johnston; J-Oisin Murphy.
Have we seen a good 'un?
Barnwell Boy (Starspangledbanner) makes a lovely debut in the @WilliamHill/@BritishEBF Novice Stakes @Goodwood_Races 🏇
Masar and Royal Scotsman feature on the recent roll of honour for this six-furlong dash …@Johnston_Racing | @oismurphy pic.twitter.com/b2UmBwSFzO
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 26, 2023
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