Son Of Starspangledbanner Takes Group 2 On Return

Star Patrol (5g Starspangledbanner - It’s One, by O’Reilly) produced a game performance to make a winning return to action in Saturday’s Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington.

Clinton McDonald’s charge placed in a Group 3 before winning a Listed sprint earlier this year and was having his first run since March on Saturday. Najem Suhail (Starspangledbanner) set a fast pace on the far side, as Ben Melham led the stand’s side pack aboard Star Patrol, who took the overall advantage a furlong from home. Ridden out, Star Patrol dug deep to deny late challengers by a short head on the line.

“They were burning along up front weren’t they?” McDonald said after the race “He was left there for a fair while out so for a first up run it was a great effort, he’ll come on from that. That race will give him a lot of confidence.”

“It’s good to see him come back in the form he’d showed earlier,” the winning rider added. “He’s a quality galloper and he’d been working well, so we thought he’d run well today.”

Clinton McDonald earmarked the Group 2 Gilgai Sprint as Star Patrol’s next target, with the Group 1 Champions Sprint on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival another possibility.

Bred by Greenhaven Park Stud, the son of Starspangledbanner is owned by a partnership including JPM Ma and K Wong.