Aussie bred champion sprinter and G1 sire Starspangledbanner is not at Rosemont Stud this spring, but he did feature with an international stakes double on Sunday with Irish bred California Spangle (IRE) winning the Group III Celebration Cup at Sha Tin, while in Ireland he sired a promising new 2YO stakes-winner.
The Group III Weld Park Stakes (7f) at the Curragh was won in bold front running fashion by the Joseph O’Brien trained filly Basil Martini, who had half a length to spare at the finish over Saxon Warrior filly Gan Teorainn.
Consistent without winning in her first four starts, the filly had finished second three times, so was overdue for a victory.
“Basil Martini really felt good today according to Declan. She has held her form very well all year and that was a good, tough performance. She might go now for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf,” said Joseph O'Brien.
Bought for 160,000 pounds at the Goffs UK Premier and Silver Yearling Sale by MV Magnier, Basil Martini is the first winner for Under Offer, a placed half-sister by Bated Breath to stakes-winner Bayargal from the family of Group winners Baghadur and Bouttemont.
Basil Martini is the 24th stakes-winner for Starspangledbanner, who covered 70 mares in Victoria last spring at a fee of $16,500.
The Group III Celebration Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin produced an easy win for the Tony Cruz trained California Spangle, who started a short priced favourite and won by two lengths over Zoustar gelding Healthy Happy.
Already a stakes-winner, he has the impressive record of seven wins and four seconds from 11 starts.
With options to contest either the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) or the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on 11 December, Cruz has decided to target the longer race because of California Spangle’s relentless racing style.
“I think he’s a miler. He’s a real front-runner,” Cruz said.
“At the 1200m, it’s hard to get to the front if you’ve drawn wide, but in the 1600m there are no fast horses around. I think he will be the fastest one and easily lead the race and have it his own way again.”
