Stakes Double for Starspangledbanner

Starspangledbanner posted an international stakes double on Saturday with progressive sprinter Star Patrol (5g Starspangledbanner x It's One, by O'Reilly) winning the Group II VRC Gilgai Stakes at Flemington and then in Ireland his consistent filly Aussie Girl (3f Starspangledbanner x Ravissante, by Galileo) broke through for her first Black Type win in the Listed Brigid's Pastures Waterford Testimonial Stakes (6f) at The Curragh.

Trained by Fozzy Stack, Aussie Girl has had a busy year starting 12 times and has never finished further back than fourth. Stakes placed twice previously, she was favourite in this assignment and scored a well deserved length and three-quarter win.

Winning rider Colin Keane was full of praise for the filly, who has won three of 14 starts with seven placings.

“She probably deserved that as she has been very consistent in Listed and Group company and she handles those conditions well,” he said.

“She jumps, she travels and she’s tough.

“Fozzy said not to interfere with her. She usually jumps smart and he said let her dictate on her own terms. I put my hands down, sat on her as long as I could and she picked up again in the last furlong. She’s a filly that should only improve with time.”

Aussie Girl was bought for just €35,000 from the Airle Stud draft at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale by De Burgh Equine/ F Stack and is the best of two winners from Ravissante, a winning Galileo daughter of stakes-winner Stunning, whose next dam is triple Group I winning US bred mare Gorgeous.

Aussie Girl is the 35th stakes-winner for Starspangledbanner, who stands in Australia this spring at a fee of $33,000.