News

Inglis One, Three, in July Cup

9th Jul 2010

Starspangledbanner continued his elevation to being one of the world’s great sprinters when he showed spades of courage in an Inglis dominated Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket overnight.

STARSPANGLEDBANNER ($120,000 2008 Premier, 3c Choisir-Gold Anthem) was coming off a win in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and was an easing favourite to win the testing sprint.

Those who had stuck solid to the Choisir colt probably felt they were in trouble when he was headed by Equiano and Alverta in the middle stages, but he dug deep into the reserves of stamina he had previously shown in the Caulfield Guineas, to win running away.

In one of the most notable results for Inglis and Australian horses on the international stage, ALVERTA (P$20,000 2005 Easter, 6m Flying Spur-Grilse) ran one of the races of her career in holding down third spot after looking the winner at one stage. The Paul Messara trained mare may have been shunned as a yearling, but she now rates as one of the most valuable broodmare prospects in training.

For Starspangledbanner, it was a history making feat, becoming the first Australian horse to win the July Cup, which has proven a tough testing ground for Australian horses previously. In winning, he goes one better than his sire Choisir, himself a $55,000 Inglis Classic graduate.

The colt was bred by Tony Santic’s Emily Krstina and sold through his Makybe draft at the 2008 Melbourne Premier Sale to Newmarc Bloodstock and the Grange Partnership.

He became the inaugural winner in the $2.6million Inglis Race Series when he won at Moonee Valley in October 2008 before trainer Leon Corstens took him to wins in the Caulfield Guineas and Oakleigh Plate at Group 1 level.

Coolmore Stud bought the colt following his outstanding spring campaign and under Aidan O’Brien, he has transformed into a dual hemisphere performer, ensuring he will become a much sought after shuttle stallion.

His feats are another glowing endorsement of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, which was also the source of Hong Kong Champion Sacred Kingdom, who has been the world’s highest rated sprinter over the past three years.