Promising Starspangledbanner Filly Wins Sprint Maiden

Shandy (3f Starspangledbanner – Sandtail, by Verglas) built on a promising debut to make a winning seasonal return in Saturday’s five furlong maiden at Cork.

The Fozzy Stack-trained filly finished third in a 20-runner maiden at the Curragh in October and was sent off favourite as she dropped back to the minimum trip on her three-year-old return. Racing in touch under Seamie Heffernan, she was ridden from a furlong out and quickened to lead in the final 110 yards. She was pushed out to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Speaking after the race, Stack revealed, “I thought she might have been an Ascot two-year-old this time last year but she had a bit of an issue so spent a long time out in the field. It was a rush to get her ready to run so she had no foundation going to the Curragh last October, but Colin (Keane, then jockey ) liked her.”

Bred by Airlie Stud, the daughter of Starspangledbanner is owned by Mrs MV Magnier, Mrs Paul Shanahan and TV Magnier.