G2 Victory for Starspangled Mare

Tara Madgwick - Sunday August 25

A Group III winner on Epsom Derby day, four year-old Starsspangledbanner mare Breege can mix her form, but she put in a career best performance  at York overnight to win the Group II City of York Stakes (7f).

Trained by John and Sean Quinn, Breege produced a powerful finish from back in the field, surging past her rivals for Colin Keane to win by a length and a half taking her overall record to three wins and eight placings from 17 starts.

“Breege has always shown a little bit of class. Before she won a Group race [at Epsom] she'd been placed in five Group and Listed races,” said co-trainer John Quinn.

“We worked her last Monday, we had her in the Celebration Mile and this. I rang Andrew Black [owner] and said, 'I'm not saying she'll win, but I've never seen her work as well'. The money York put up, which we're very grateful for, is immense. He said we should go to York and I'm delighted we did.”

Advertisement

Breege is a homebred for Chasemore Farm and is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Starspangledbanner’s Group I winner The Wow Signal. She is the best of two winners from Wowcha, a winning half-sister by Zoffany to Group I winner The Wow Signal and also Group winners Matrika and Unicorn Lion as well as stakes-winner Miss Infinity.

Breege is one of 10 stakes-winners this year – three of them Group I winners - for Starspangledbanner, who stands at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $44,000.

Starspangledbanner, click for more info.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Istataba adds international flavour to National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Buyers can currently bid on 11 stakes-performed mares in the National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, including one that brings South American bloodlines and Singaporean racetrack performance.
Many Pedigree Paths Lead to Helen Street
Jane Henning of Pedigree Dynamics offers her thoughts on an Irish Oaks winner that has become a remarkable producer and is now emerging as a great candidate for line breeding.
Vale, Joe Yorke
The racing industry has lost one of its more colourful characters with the passing of Joe Yorke on Sunday.
Alice Jeffries - Rising Star in Breeding Industry
Alice Jeffries didn’t always see a future for herself in the breeding industry, but a very special filly played a key role in getting her to where she is today, working as Cambridge Stud’s Assistant Yearling Manager, and receiving Entain’s Newcomer Excellence Award on Sunday.
New kids on the block add fresh blood to Vibrant Victorian breeding scene
With 11 new stallions standing in Victoria this coming breeding season, including the winners of three Group 1 races on their ‘home’ soil, the short and long-term future looks increasingly bright for the state’s vibrant industry. 
Tenth 2YO Winner Spirit of Boom
Lindsay Park Racing produced the tenth 2YO winner of the season for Spirit of Boom at Pakenham on Monday when the well backed favourite Idleonby saluted at her second start.
Levakia Adds to Good Week for Curraghmore
Emerging filly Levakia has given Curraghmore further cause for celebration.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 30
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 3YOs - Where the Real Action Is
2YO racing might garner a lot of attention, but the reality is G1 races run for this age group are shining a light on a comparatively small slice of that foal crop, whereas 3YO racing is where the real action lies as the good horses from the season before have to step up or slide out of contention.
Kiwi Innovator Recognized
Emma Thompson was stepping into the unknown when taking on the role as Programme Lead for the NZB Kiwi, and after executing an outstanding inaugural running in March, she was recognised at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards.