Starspangledbanner Filly A Worthy Group Winner At Epsom

“Always the bridesmaid” is a term connections of Breege (4f Starspangledbanner – Wowcha, by Zoffany) may have grown accustomed to, until their talented filly gained a deserved return to winning ways in Saturday’s Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom.

John and Sean Quinn’s charge placed in two Group contests as a two-year-old and returned last season to finish a close second in the Sandringham Handicap, Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes and Listed October Stakes. Déjà vu hit last month when she returned with a narrow defeat in a Listed race at Goodwood.

Jason Hart retained the partnership at Epsom and rode the bay in touch with the leaders, before asserting with over two furlongs left to race. Challengers loomed either side soon after, but Breege dug deep to prevail by a neck on the line.

“It's hard to believe she'd only won a maiden,” the winning rider said. “She has some high-class form and always threatened to win a big one. Hopefully that can be the springboard for her to have a great year.”

John Quinn earmarked the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot as Breeege’s next target. A Chasemore Farm homebred, the daughter of Starspangledbanner is out of a half-sister to top-class juvenile The Wow Signal (Starspangledbanner).