Starspangledbanner ex Wowcha gelding sells for HK$5.4 million

NH Bred Starspangledbanner Gelding Tops HK International Sale

A Northern Hemisphere bred Starspangledbanner gelding returned the highest price at the 2024 Hong Kong International Sale (HKIS) at Sha Tin on Friday evening after attracting a bid of HK$5.4 million.

Lot 20 was purchased by Cheung Kwok Wing and is from the Zoffany mare Wowcha. He is a full brother to Group III placed Breege and is also a three-quarter brother-in-blood to Starspangedbanner’s Group I winner The Wow Signal as his dam is Wowcha is a half-sister to that top class juvenile, who won the Group II Royal Ascot Coventry Stakes and then the Group I Deauville Prix Morny.

He was sourced originally from the Chasemore Farm draft at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale where he was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 550,000 guineas.

Starspangledbanner has had plenty of success in Hong Kong with his star progeny including Group I winners California Spangle, Beauty Eternal and the five-time winning Nordic Dragon, a recent graduate of the HKIS.

Starspangledbanner was popular in Australia last spring covering 116 mares.