Impressive Sunday Double For In Form Starspangledbanner

Starspangledbanner’s fantastic start to the season continued on Sunday when Hadman (2c Starspangledbanner - Anneli, by Galileo) completed a smart double for the Castlehyde Stud sire in the seven furlong maiden at Gowran Park.

Third last time out at the Curragh, the Joseph O’Brien-trained colt made all of the running under Dylan Browne McMonagle and was asked to quicken approaching the two furlong marker. Digging deep inside the final furlong, he prevailed by a head from the fast-finishing Unconquerable (Churchill) and favourite Once Upon A River (Churchill).

Owned by the Al Mamoura Partnership, Hadman was bred by Merriebelle Irish Farm Ltd and is a grandson of dual Listed winner Anne Of Kiev.

He becomes Starspangledbanner’s eighth two-year-old winner of the year, bringing his strike rate to 38 per cent. The leading 2YO sire in Europe, he is responsible for the winners of the only juvenile Group races of the season to date in Castle Star and Hermana Estrella.

Earlier that day at Sha Tin, The Tony Cruz-trained California Spangle (3c Starspangledbanner - Pearlitas Passion, by High Chaparral) made an impressive debut in course record time.

Leading from the early stages under Neil Callan, the bay was ridden from two furlongs out to win by a length from previous winner Cordyceps Six, with another three lengths back to the third horse.

Owned by Howard Liang Yum Shing, the €150,000 yearling purchase was bred by M Enright out of a half-sister to Shakespearean.