Smart Juvenile Kicks Off Starspangledbanner Treble
Starspangledbanner was responsible for three maiden winners at Navan on Wednesday, with smart juvenile Bodhi Bear (2c Starspangledbanner – Wild Child, by Galileo) first to oblige in the six furlong opener.
Fozzy Stack’s charge was sent off second favourite of 19, following his debut third at Naas and subsequent second in the valuable Irish EBF Auction Series Final. Making all under Seamie Heffernan, he was ridden approaching the final furlong and ran on well to beat the favourite by a length and three quarters.
The winning rider later commented, “Bodhi Bear had two very good runs coming in here and he had his chance today. He stepped forward nicely in what felt like a strong maiden.”
Stack added, “He won well and was a long way clear of the third. He should be a better horse next year. Maybe he could be a horse for a Guineas Trial in the spring and we will work it out from there.”
Owned by Mrs J Barrett and bred by Mrs Sally Rowley-Williams, Bodhi Bear holds an entry in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. His stablemate New Theory (2f Starspangledbanner – Pixel Power, by Dream Ahead) completed a double for the yard when landing the five furlong maiden under Darragh O’Sullivan.
Racing prominently throughout, the chesnut switched right to challenge approaching the final furlong and was ridden out to score by a neck. Turners Cross (No Nay Never) and Snapdragon (No Nay Never) completed a 1-2-3 for Coolmore sires.
Owned by D Keoghan and partners, New Theory had shown promise at the track on debut, when finishing second to Gr.1 winner Camille Pissarro (Wootton Bassett). The daughter of Starspangledbanner was bred by Vimal and Gillian Khosla.
The subsequent race saw the Joe Murphy-trained White Clover (3f Starspangledbanner – Acclimatisation, by Acclamation) gain a deserved success, following four placed efforts.
Gary Carroll took the ride in the five furlong maiden and rode her prominently, switching right approaching the final furlong. Ridden to challenge, the James Purcell and Crampscastle Bloodstock-owned filly ran on well to lead by half a length on the line.
Bred by Chis Geoghegan, the Starspangledbanner filly provides an important update for her Australia half-sister selling at the Goffs Foal Sale.