Group 1 Success Caps Terrific Season For Starspangledbanner

Millisle (2f Starspangledbanner - Green Castle, by Indian Ridge) capped a terrific juvenile season for her sire when charging home to take Saturday’s Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

A Listed winner and Group 3 placed earlier in the season, the Jessica Harrington-trained filly raced towards the back of the field under stable jockey Shane Foley. Making headway as they approached the final furlong, she ran on well to lead inside the final furlong and won by a length and three quarters.

The delighted winning trainer commented after the race, “As soon as Millisle hit the rising ground she lengthened her stride. She has always showed a lot of speed and before the race Shane (Foley) was looking towards the Commonwealth Cup but he said she will definitely stay seven and might get a mile.”

Bred and owned by Stonethorn Stud Farms, Millisle is one of four Stakes horses produced by her dam. Her second dam, Green Lucia, was placed in both the Yorkshire and Irish Oaks, and is a half-sister to Old Vic (Sadler’s Wells).

Millisle becomes the second Group 1 winner by Starspangledbanner, with The Wow Signal having provided him with his first in the Prix Morny, a particularly impressive achievement given that his first crop was of limited numbers. That first crop also produced Queen Mary Stakes heroine and Cheveley Park Stakes second Anthem Alexander, as well as multiple Group winner Home Of The Brave.