Rosemont Stud’s Starspangledbanner is having an amazing year with his Northern Hemisphere bred two year-olds with 16 individual juvenile winners so far including speedy filly Flotus, who claimed her first Black type success overnight when winning the Listed Ripon Champion 2YO Trophy (6f).
Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, Flotus won impressively on debut at Goodwood in May before lining up in Group and Listed races for her next three starts when she performed well without placing.
Ridden forward by Silvestre de Sousa, who rode the filly when she won her first race, Flotus took up the lead and powered clear to win by more than four lengths in a dominant display.
“I think perhaps they’ve probably been trying to ride a race on her, and she’s very ‘on’ and (just) wants to get on with the job,” said De Sousa, who was back on Flotus for the first time since her debut.
“I think it maybe suits her to not complicate things. I just let her be where she wanted to be. She’s a really talented filly, and when I won on her first time I really liked her.”
Flotus holds an entry for the Group I Cheveley Park Stakes (6f) at Newmarket next month.
Flotus is a lovely type that sold for 125,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 when bought by bloodstock agent Arthur Hoyeau having been sold as a foal for 65,000 euros.
The 21st stakes-winner for Starspangledbanner, Flotus is the best of two winners from Floriade, a winning half-sister by Invincible Spirit to stakes-placed Lottie Dod and Rockaway Valley.
Starspangledbanner stands this spring at a fee of $16,500.
