Millisle Bounces Back In Ballyogan Stakes

Wednesday saw 2019 European Champion 2YO Filly Millisle (3f Starspangledbanner - Green Castle, by Indian Ridge) return to the winners enclosure following her four length success in the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes.

Second in a similar contest last time out, last year’s G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine was ridden to chase the leader by Shane Foley. Asserting before two furlongs out, she was ridden clear inside the final furlong and was eased down close home.

Speaking after the race, winning trainer Jessica Harrington said,"She's back on track. She was very good there and Shane said she's only really learning to sprint now, she got rolling, enjoyed it and quickened up well. She had to carry a penalty against them there too."

"We'll probably go to the Curragh now for the Phoenix Sprint, another Group 3. It's just hard enough to find races for her. There are very few fillies races, that's the trouble, and she's probably not hardened enough to take on the elder sprinters yet."

"I think she will be in time as I think she's a proper sprinter. I'd love to look at a Group 1 towards the end of the season. Her dam went back in foal this year to Starspangledbanner aged 23. She had been retired but they brought her back in out of the field."

The Naas feature win provided Millisle with her third Stakes success overall in the colours of breeder Stonethorn Stud Farms.

Starspangledbanner’s success continued later that evening, with Stars In The Night (3f Starspangledbanner - On The Dark Side, by Kheleyf) justifying favouritism in the five furlong maiden at Catterick.

The Kevin Ryan-trained filly was the highest-rated runner in the field and confirmed her form with a two and three quarter length victory. Kevin Stott guided her to success in the colours of Hambleton Racing.

Bred by Drumlin Bloodstock, Stars In The Night comes from a family her trainer knows well, with Ryan having trained her dam On The Dark Side to finish third in the Listed Woodcote Stakes.