NORMALLY when a horse wins four group 1 races from 1100 metres to 1600 metres at the biggest meetings in Australia and England he can be assured of a life of luxury and an assembly line of well-bred mares to service, reports The Age.Its report says: Alas, for Australian (and European) champion sprinter Starspangledbanner, the dream career as a stallion has failed to materialise because of fertility issues. The now six-year-old has been forced to forego his harem and go back to the track, with hi
NORMALLY when a horse wins four group 1 races from 1100 metres to 1600 metres at the biggest meetings in Australia and England he can be assured of a life of luxury and an assembly line of well-bred mares to service, reports The Age.
Its report says: Alas, for Australian (and European) champion sprinter Starspangledbanner, the dream career as a stallion has failed to materialise because of fertility issues. The now six-year-old has been forced to forego his harem and go back to the track, with his first appearance as a relaunched racehorse due to come on Saturday at the Curragh in Ireland.
Starspangledbanner won two group 1 races in Australia when prepared by Leon Corstens, taking out the 1600-metre Caulfield Guineas in 2009 before winning the Oakleigh Plate (1100 metres) four months later. He was then bought by breeding and racing entity Coolmore for a reported $10 million and, after ending his Australian career with a third in the Newmarket Handicap, was sent to Aidan O'Brien in Ireland to be trained.
Tough, game and consistent, and blessed with pace and power, Starspangledbanner looked to be the ideal breeding prospect - until nature took a hand. He managed to get only a handful of mares in foal, and the decision was taken to bring him back to racing. He is entered on Saturday in The Minstrel Stakes (1400 metres). Another tilt at the Nunthorpe at York in August has been mooted as a second possibility for the horse. (www.theage.com.au).