Starspangledbanner sires Irish Guineas Group 1 double
Australian-bred stallion Starspangledbanner completed a Group 1 Irish Guineas double at the Curragh with his progeny Gstaad and Precise capturing the Irish 2000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas respectively over the weekend.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien saddled both winners, with Gstaad improving on his recent second placing in the English 2000 Guineas to claim the colts’ classic under Ryan Moore.
“He’s a big, powerful horse and Ryan gave him a class ride,” O’Brien said of Gstaad. “He’s progressing all the time and we always thought stepping up a little would suit him.”
The Ballydoyle stable completed the Guineas clean sweep when Precise landed the Irish 1000 Guineas to hand Starspangledbanner a second elite-level success on the card.
“She’s very straightforward and very genuine,” O’Brien said of Precise. “She travelled strongly through the race and when Ryan asked her, she really picked up well.”
Starspangledbanner, a Group 1-winning son of Choisir, won the Caulfield Guineas, Oakleigh Plate, Golden Jubilee Stakes and July Cup during his international racing career before establishing himself as a successful in both hemispheres.
Precise and Gstaad are among 10 Group I winners for Starspangledbanner, who stands at Coolmore Ireland at a fee of €60,000 ($A100,000).
