Starspangledbanner looked sensational at the annual Coolmore Australia stallion parade on Sunday and overnight he added a new Group winner to his tally with three yea-rold filly Shandy surprising punters to post a thrilling win in the Group III Ballyogan Stakes (6f) at Naas.
Trained by Fozzy Stack and ridden by Andrew Slattery, Shandy charted a passage on the far side of the course with only one other runner and hit the line hard to win by a head over the favourite Firebird.
“We drew wide we decided to come this side because the middle is the worst place to be. We took a chance and it worked well. She ran well in the Rockingham and here last time. The ease in the ground helped her too,” said Fozzy Stack.
It was the second win from seven starts for Shandy, who was bought for 70,000 guineas frpom the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 by De Burgh Equine / M V Magnier and runs for Mrs M V Magnier & Mrs Paul Shanahan & T V Magnier.
Shandy is the best of two winners from Sandtail, a half-sister by Verglas to Group I winner Zafisio and is the 44th stakes-winner for Starspangledbanner.
The champion son of Choisir stands at a fee of $44,000 this spring.
