Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Friday April 28

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Closer Look at an Unexpected Success
He is the leading sire of 3YOs so far this season and is set to have a huge impact on the yearling sales of 2026, so we are taking a closer look at this stalwart sire, whose long term impact is only just beginning.
Tattersalls December Foal Sale Day 1 -First Season Sires Impress
The four-day Tattersalls December Foal Sale got off to a solid start with two lots by first season sires DRAGON SYMBOL and SHAQUILLE jointly heading proceedings at 75,000 guineas and increases in the turnover, median, average and clearance rate from the equivalent day in 2024.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 24
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 25
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Third Season Judgement Day
When the oldest progeny of a stallion turn four there is nowhere left to hide so a look at the third season sire table at the end of spring can be an interesting one when we take it conjunction with what will be happening at the sales in 2026.
Starspangledbanner 2YO Treasurway Sparkles in Breeders Stakes
Two two-year-old stakes-winning fillies at Sandown and Morphettville in a matter of minutes made it a day to remember for Anthony Mithen and the Rosemont Stud team.
Cambridge Stud Mare Chasing Elusive Stakes Win
Cambridge Stud mare Jaarffi posted yet another stakes placing over the weekend, and trainer Lance Noble is hoping she can be rewarded for her consistency with an elusive black-type victory over summer.
425,000 Guinea Frankel Colt Tops Tattersalls December Yearlings
It's the start of a big fortnight of sales in the UK with Tattersalls December kicking off overnight with the yearling session to be followed later this week by Foals and then next week the stellar Mares will be offered, a sale that produced reigning Australian Horse of the Year Via Sistina (IRE) in 2023.
Jenny Graham Couldn't Be Happier with Captivant!
Captivant’s first crop son Vantorix made an immediate impact at Taree yesterday, producing a professional and dominant performance to win the National Thoroughbred Week Maiden Plate (1005m) by two and a half lengths on debut.
Foals and Yearlings Highlighted for Breednet Premium Stallions
With the foaling season drawing to an end for 2025 and the yearling sales season upon us Breednet have launched a new addition to our Premium stallion pages with a carousel arrangement now available to highlight foals born this spring or yearlings for the 2026 sales.