Pedigree Watch – Starspangled Stakes Double

Tara Madgwick - Sunday September 25

Aussie bred champion sprinter and G1 sire Starspangledbanner is not at Rosemont Stud this spring, but he did feature with an international stakes double on Sunday with Irish bred California Spangle (IRE)  winning the Group III Celebration Cup at Sha Tin, while in Ireland he sired a promising new 2YO stakes-winner.

The Group III Weld Park Stakes (7f) at the Curragh was won in bold front running fashion by the Joseph O’Brien trained filly Basil Martini, who had half a length to spare at the finish over Saxon Warrior filly Gan Teorainn.

Consistent without winning in her first four starts, the filly had finished second three times, so was overdue for a victory.

“Basil Martini really felt good today according to Declan. She has held her form very well all year and that was a good, tough performance. She might go now for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf,” said Joseph O'Brien.

Advertisement

Bought for 160,000 pounds at the Goffs UK Premier and Silver Yearling Sale by MV Magnier, Basil Martini is the first winner for Under Offer, a placed half-sister by Bated Breath to stakes-winner Bayargal from the family of Group winners Baghadur and Bouttemont.

Basil Martini is the 24th stakes-winner for Starspangledbanner, who covered 70 mares in Victoria last spring at a fee of $16,500.

The Group III Celebration Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin produced an easy win for the Tony Cruz trained California Spangle, who started a short priced favourite and won by two lengths over Zoustar gelding Healthy Happy.

Already a stakes-winner, he has the impressive record of seven wins and four seconds from 11 starts.

With options to contest either the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) or the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on 11 December, Cruz has decided to target the longer race because of California Spangle’s relentless racing style.
“I think he’s a miler. He’s a real front-runner,” Cruz said.

“At the 1200m, it’s hard to get to the front if you’ve drawn wide, but in the 1600m there are no fast horses around. I think he will be the fastest one and easily lead the race and have it his own way again.”

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
I Am Unstoppable New for Oaklands Stud
Queenslanders have not had a great deal of opportunity to breed to sons of champion sire I Am Invincible with just two listed to stand in the sunshine state this spring, although we can now make that three with Oaklands Stud announcing the addition of Group I performer I Am Unstoppable.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
G1 Older Sprinters- Are Our Sprinters the Best in the World?
The Australian G1 season has concluded and there were 23 Group I races won by older horses at a distance less than 1600m, but one race that fits the category but is yet to be given G1 status is the $10million Golden Eagle (1500m) and form out of it would suggest it was the best of them all.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
Starlust Retired - Riverstone Lodge Next Stop
Zoustar’s brilliant Group I winning son Starlust (GB) has been retired following his excellent close up fourth in the Group I King Charles Stakes (5f) at Royal Ascot last month.
One to Watch – Ireland
We look at a lot of race results at Breednet and when a three year-old half-sister by Wootton Bassett (GB) to Australia’s champion sire elect of 2025, Zoustar, breaks her maiden that is always going to catch our attention.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Yes Yes Yes to Stand at Gooree Park Stud
When Yes Yes Yes scored a course record breaking win in The Everest in 2019, the three year-old colt delivered a fairytale result for his ownership group and some of those owners are committed to ensuring his future at stud going forward and they include Julia Ritchie.