Starspangledbanner (Aus)

All who witnessed the Doncaster debut success of Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}--Sulaalaat {GB}, by New Approach {Ire})) already knew that she was a talented performer, but Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's imposing chestnut had to show it where it matters and she duly delivered in Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel S. at Newmarket. Gifted an ideal lead, a strong pace and fast conditions in this seven-furlong "Win and You're In" for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, the Crisfords' 7-2 shot was not for catching once James...

Nobody was going to rain on Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}--Elusive Action {Fr}, by Elusive City)'s parade as she emerged from the bog that was Saratoga's lawn Friday to score her first stakes win in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. With pouring rain that led to an abandoned post parade and eventually cancelled the rest of the card, the field for the Saratoga Oaks went straight from the paddock to the gate. Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) controlled the pace through :23.55 and :48.57 early fractions while...

Some choice 2-year-olds were on display at Deauville on Sunday and Gerard Augustin-Normand's Laulne (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was among the pick as she captured the seven-furlong G3 Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing. Always travelling with intent buried in mid-pack under man-of-the-moment Alexis Pouchin, the Yann Barberot-trained 9-1 shot who had won two races in the provinces burst to the front with 150 metres remaining and held on by half a length from the G2 Prix Robert Papin third Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}). Laulne, who began her career over...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Insights features a full sister to G1 Cheveley Park heroine Millisle at Naas. 14.45 Naas, Cond, €25,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT Stonethorn Stud Farms Ltd's homebred EMERALD BANNER (IRE) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is kin to four black-type performers headed by her G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning full-sister Millisle (Ire). She is...

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...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a son of Dubawi (Ire). 16.45 York, Mdn, £30,000, 2yo, 6fT IMPRESSIVE ACT (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) debuts for Godolphin's Charlie Appleby stable and is a son of the G3 Fred Darling S. winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Dabyah (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}) who fetched 650,000gns...

Naas produced a pair of TDN Rising Stars on Saturday, with the first being Atlantic Thoroughbreds' Devious (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}--Federation {GB}, by Motivator {GB}) in the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Backed into 11-5 favouritism, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained 140,000gns Book 1 graduate was reserved in mid-division early by Gavin Ryan before being allowed to cruise to the front 1 1//2 furlongs down. Soon clear, the powerful chestnut who hails from the family of Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) may have been idling late as Mr Saturday (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire})...

The second lot north of 500,000gns in less than 20 lots at Park Paddocks, a chestnut son of Starspangledbanner (Aus) (lot 1321) from the Ballyvolane Stud consignment caught the eye of Richard Knight, who shelled out 600,000gns late in the day during Book 2. Bred by The Great Dame Partnership, he is the first foal from his dam, who is a half-sister to multiple group winner Donnerschlag (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), and stakes winner Izzy Bizu (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). The latter is the dam of dual French listed heroine Dizzy...

Chasemore Farm's lot 1008, a son of Starspangledbanner (Aus), took the lead during the second session of Book 2 of Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Tuesday when selling for 550,000gns to the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Bred by Chasemore, his dam Wowcha (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is a half-sister to the late The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who won the G1 Prix Morny and G2 Coventry S. before going on to sire G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victrix Coeursamba (Fr). Since the catalogue was published, the colt's full-sister Breege (GB)...

Joseph O'Brien trainee Basil Martini (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}--Under Offer {Ire}, by Bated Breath {GB}) was a four-start maiden heading into Sunday's G3 Weld Park S. at the Curragh and returned home with black-type and a first win of any kind after making all under Declan McDonogh in the seven-furlong juvenile fillies' heat. The 12-1 chance had collected prizemoney in all outings to date and went postward for this stakes debut coming back off a short-head second at Punchestown earlier in the month. Basil Martini, the sharpest of 10 into stride,...

   There was no fairytale at Deauville on Sunday as Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) failed to fire on her European bow in the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet won from the front by Elizabeth "Bunny" Roberts's Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Aristia had found only Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) too strong in the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood last time July 28 and that form saw to it that the Richard Hannon trainee traded at only 4-1 as Sean Levey sought to dictate to suit. Kept company by Rosscarbery (Ger)...

Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. came down to a display of supreme jockeyship, but it was not Moore or Dettori or even Demuro who provided it but Shane Crosse, whose masterclass from the front on the under-rated State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) proved the difference in such a tight Royal Ascot encounter. The race is a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November. While Frankie fumbled with the blindfold on Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) as the gates opened and lost all chance there,...