With Rosemont Stud relying on the impressive Justify (USA) filly Legacies in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, it has freed up Rosemont’s Starspangledbanner filly Treasurway to claim a long overdue win in the Group III Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
Trained by Jason Warren, Treasurway has finished third in her five starts. The last three have come in black-type races, and she was luckless in the previous two, the Group III TBV Thoroughbred Breeders at Flemington and the $1,000,000 The Showdown at Sandown.
The Group III Breeders’ Stakes has a rich heritage, but it is doubtful it will see a return to the glory days of the 1960s.
Pago Pago won the feature in 1963, his sister Lady Pompilia in ‘64, Tobin Bronze in ‘65, Storm Queen in ’66, and Manihi in ’67.
Still, it carries the all-important Group status and would provide a welcome return home to Coolmore’s prodigal son Starspangledbanner.
Starspangledbanner returns to Coolmore this spring (image Mark Smith)
It is incredible to the extent Starspangledbanner has outperformed in the northern hemisphere. All six of his Group 1 winners were conceived in Ireland. To rub it in, some of those Irish-breds have performed at the highest level in Australia.
Newgate Farm’s State Of Rest (IRE) defeated Animoe and Verry Elleegant in the WS Cox Plate, adding Australia to his list of conquests that saw him win at the highest level in England, America, and France.
Starspangledbanner’s son Home Of The Brave (IRE) towelled up D’Argento, and Trapeze Artist in the Group II Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill and California Spangle (IRE) has cemented his place among the elite in Hong Kong.
It would be no exaggeration to say that Rosemont’s Anthony Mithen rescued the stud career of Starspangledbanner, so he deserves to reap the rewards.
Treasurway makes up plenty of ground from last behind the impressive Shesallshenanigans in The Showdown
Treasurway is a pure Rosemont product - the first foal of the Rosemont Stud bred and raced Miss Toorak Flyer, a daughter of the then-resident stallion Toorak Toff. She was a more than handy mare for Jason Warren, winning four and placing in six of her 14 starts.
Miss Toorak Flyer is out of an unraced half-sister to Secret Flyer, who carried Rosemont Stud’s red, white gatecrasher silks with distinction, earning Listed wins in the MRC Sir John Monash Stakes and VRC Kensington Stakes.
Emirates Park Stud nurtured this family after importing the Roberto mare Luv Luiana (USA).
A half-sister to Preakness stakes and Belmont Stakes hero Little Current, Luv Luiana (USA) is the dam of Group III Emancipation Stakes winner Almazyoon (Danehill), in turn, the dam of Group III winner Al Maze (El Moxie).
Luv Luiana’s dam Luiana (My Babu) is an unraced half-sister to the 1963 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Chateaugay (Swaps), and the American champion handicap female of 1962, Primonetta (Swaps), who was honoured as the Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1978.
