Starspangledbanner Colt Gains Deserved Success

Pat Dobbs described Sand Diego (2g Starspangledbanner - Supreme Quest, by Exceed And Excel) as “a serious horse” after guiding him to a well-deserved maiden success at Sandown on Friday.

The Peter Crate owned and trained chesnut finished a close second on his two previous starts and remained over five furlongs on his latest start. Held up in a field of ten, he made progress from halfway and was switched left to challenge over a furlong from home. Quickening well, he led close home to beat Qaseeda by three parts of a length, as the favourite took third.

Bought by Crate for 34,000gns as a foal, Sand Diego was bred by Patrick Delaney and comes from the family of Wenyss Bight, Beat Hollow and New Bay. He continues an outstanding run by Starspangledbanner’s latest crop of juveniles.