Starspangledbanner flies high in Golden Jubilee

Multiple Australian Group 1 hero STARSPANGLEDBANNER (Choisir) was purchased

by Coolmore interests in January with a view toward Royal Ascot, and the import

fulfilled those plans to perfection in Saturday's

£450,000 Golden Jubilee S. (Eng-G1). Making just his second start since joining

Aidan O'Brien in Europe, the 13-2 co-favorite blitzed his rivals with a

raw display of speed beneath Johnny Murtagh. The

chestnut, who is still a three-year-old by Southern Hemisphere reckoning,

grabbed the early lead on the stands' side and imposed his authority, with 50-1

longshot Society Rock (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) just outfinishing American star

Kinsale King (Yankee Victor) by a head for runner-up honors.

Starspangledbanner was following the trail blazed by his sire, Choisir, who

famously invaded from Australia to plunder both the Golden Jubilee and King's

Stand S. (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot in 2003. In a further twist to the story,

Starspangledbanner hails from the family of Australian champion Haradasun

(Fusaichi Pegasus), who pursued a similar career path. Transferred to O'Brien

for an abbreviated European campaign, Haradasun landed the 2008 Queen Anne S.

(Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot, and that victory was enough for him to be ranked as the

highweight miler in both England and Ireland.

The idea to take Starspangledbanner to Royal Ascot was first formulated by

his original trainer, Leon Corstens, and publicized last November. Placed in the

Blue Diamond Prelude S. (Aus-G3) and Festival of Racing S. as a juvenile, he

really came to hand at three. Starspangledbanner captured the H.D.F. McNeil S.

(Aus-G3) and the Vain S., and later broke through at the top level with a 2

3/4-length triumph in the one-mile Caulfield Guineas (Aus-G1) in October.

After his Australian late spring/early summer break, Starspangledbanner

returned to finish a solid fourth in the January 30 Lightning S. (Aus-G1)

against older sprinters. That set him up perfectly for a winning effort in the

February 20 Oakleigh Plate (Aus-G1), where he just held on by a short head in a

blanket finish. He concluded his career Down Under with a staying-on third in

the Newmarket H. (Aus-G1) on soft ground. Shipped to Ireland, Starspangledbanner

made his debut for O'Brien in the May 12 Duke of York S. (Eng-G2) and shaped

with great promise for fifth under top weight of 138 pounds.

Starspangledbanner was handed a plum draw in post 4 for the Golden Jubilee,

and the speedster made the most of it. Blazing to the front and securing the

guidance of the stands' side rail, he was pursued by Sayif (Kheleyf) and Kinsale

King. Neither could match his turbo charge. Nor could the group that plugged

away on the far side of the course. The farther they went down the straightaway,

the stronger Starspangledbanner looked, until he crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths

in front. He covered the six furlongs in 1:12.57 on the good to firm going.

"If he hit the gates the way we thought he could, then we knew it would be

straightforward as there is no horse who can lead him," O'Brien said. "He worked

coming here and did the second-last furlong in just over 9.5 seconds.

"We have never had that before and I have never seen a horse do less than 10

seconds. Tom Curtis takes the times and he had to go and check the GPS system to

make sure it is working as we couldn't believe it. He is one of those very

unusual beasts.

"It is incredible that he was able to win over a mile in Australia and he

came over with a massive reputation. We were very lucky to get him.

"He's the fastest we've had, no doubt. We've never had one go that fast

furlong by furlong. You don't record those kind of times, we hadn't recorded

them anyway."

"Aidan was very confident coming into this race," Murtagh said. "He told me

just to jump him out and let him use that stride and when you get to the two

pole, don't be anxious and when you do go for him I think he will respond today.

"Everything just worked perfect. He jumped well, traveled really well, a good

strong gallop all the way. I sensed them coming to him at the two and when I let

him go, he ran straight up the rail. He responded very well and went all the way

to the line. I couldn't pull him up. He's a great horse.

"He's very similar to his sire Choisir, big and strong."

Society Rock, who was receiving seven pounds as a Northern Hemisphere

sophomore, kept on late to deprive a game Kinsale King. Finishing fourth, but

best of those on the far side, was the mare Fleeting Spirit (Ire) (Invincible

Spirit). The other 13-2 co-favorite, Fleeting Spirit was just a half-length

adrift of Kinsale King. The top three from the Duke of York were all well beaten

in a convincing reversal of form by Starspangledbanner. Duke of York winner

Prime Defender (Bertolini) checked in ninth, while Main Aim (Oasis Dream [GB])

was 21st and Showcasing (Oasis Dream [GB]) a tailed-off last of 24.

Campaigned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Ms. Massey,

Starspangledbanner was bred in Australia by Emily Krstina Pty Ltd. and sold for

A$120,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Out of the stakes-placed Gold

Anthem (Made of Gold), he is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Gold Chant (El

Moxie). His aforementioned maternal relative Haradasun is a half-brother to

Australian champion and U.A.E. highweight Elvstroem (Danehill), hero of the 2005

Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1). They were produced by Australian Oaks (Aus-G1) queen

Circles of Gold (Marscay).

Starspangledbanner is expected to retire to stud for the upcoming Australian

breeding season, but plans call for him to get one more shot at glory.

"We will look forward to the July Cup ([Eng-G1] on July 9 at Newmarket),

hopefully," O'Brien said. "He's an incredible sprinter."

Kinsale King, who was trying turf and a straight course for the first time

Saturday, is eyeing a rematch in the July Cup.

"July here we come," trainer Carl O'Callaghan said. "I think the run will

tighten him up. He hasn't run for eight weeks and has come to try a straight six

furlongs on grass in a different country. We're happy. Third is a win for us and

he ran a great race against a good horse."

Also on closing day, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's HARBINGER (Dansili [GB])

demolished the field as the 8-11 favorite in the

£125,000 Hardwicke S. (Eng-G2), polishing his credentials as a rising

star in the 12-furlong ranks. The Sir Michael Stoute charge stormed well clear

at the top of the stretch, and in the process, moved jockey Ryan Moore closer to

the Royal Ascot riding title. Harbinger held a 3 1/2-length margin over a

valiant Duncan (Dalakhani), and another six lengths back came the mare Barshiba

(Barathea [Ire]), who carved out the early pace and stayed on for third.

"He quickened up very well and he's done it easy," Moore said. "He's seen off

inferior horses."

After this imperious performance, in a final time of 2:27.36, Harbinger

stated his case to take on his younger stablemate, Derby (Eng-G1) conqueror

Workforce (King's Best), in the July 24 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S.

(Eng-G1) at this course and distance.

"Sir Michael has obviously got the Derby winner in the King George, and if he

wants to run there we certainly wouldn't put him off," racing manager Harry

Herbert said. "He's such an exciting horse."

"We need to sit down and have a good old chat about the best thing to do," a

noncommittal Stoute said.

Harbinger, who captured the Gordon S. (Eng-G3) last season, is now unbeaten

in three starts as a four-year-old. In his reappearance, he garnered the John

Porter S. (Eng-G3) by three lengths over subsequent Yorkshire Cup (Eng-G2)

romper Manifest (Rainbow Quest). Next time out in the Ormonde S. (Eng-G3),

Harbinger defeated Age of Aquarius (Galileo [Ire]), who narrowly succumbed in

Thursday's Gold Cup (Eng-G1).

Following an impressive victory in the day's

opening contest, the £50,000 Chesham S., ZAIDAN (Street Cry [Ire]) had trainer

Clive Brittain thinking about a tilt at the Kentucky Derby (G1). With Seb

Sanders in the irons, the Saeed Manana colorbearer unleashed a powerful

closing kick to score by three lengths. Sonning Rose (Hawk Wing), one of a trio

of fillies in the field, got up for second from the Ken McPeek-trained Casper's

Touch (Touch Gold).

The 7-1 Zaidan negotiated seven furlongs in 1:27.51 to extend his mark to

two-for-two, having accounted for a Doncaster maiden first time out.

"All I can say is about the quality of my horse," Sanders enthused. "I rode

him first time out over five furlongs and it took two furlongs for the penny to

drop. He did over five furlongs what he's done over seven here. He just scythed

through them and won very well. He took me there too soon traveling too well."

"As always I'm the dreamer," Brittain said. "Our long-term plan is the

Kentucky Derby."

Brittain is no stranger to the Run for the Roses. He brought Bold Arrangement

(GB) for the 1986 running, where he finished second to Ferdinand.

"I said the next time I go back to Kentucky with a horse, it would be with

one with a chance, and he could be it," the horseman opined.

While not quite on the scale of the Golden Jubilee, the Coolmore partners

pulled off a coup of a different sort with another Choisir runner in the

£100,000 Wokingham heritage handicap. The

five-year-old mare LADDIES POKER TWO, who had not been seen under silks

since October 2008, was hammered into 9-2 favoritism for her belated return, and

trainer Jeremy Noseda had her primed to land the gamble. Reserved well off the

pace by Murtagh, the gray quickened through the gaps as they appeared and bolted

up by 2 1/2 lengths. Laddies Poker Two went faster than Starspangledbanner,

breaking the six-furlong course record by clocking 1:12.27.

"A job done," Noseda said. "This plan was hatched in December 2008. She got a

bad injury in the spring of 2009 and it meant she had to have the year off, so

the plan got delayed another year.

"I think she can go on -- it is within her compass to win a stakes race and

go from there."

In the wake of Choisir's sire double, hunch players might well have been

tempted to back Australia Day (Key of Luck) in the

£50,000 Duke of Edinburgh handicap, but the pacesetter was swamped late and

wound up fourth behind CILL RIALAIG (Environment Friend). Owned by Pangfield

Partners and trained by Hughie Morrison, the 16-1 shot benefited from a perfect

trip with Steve Drowne to hold on from the unlucky 7-4 favorite Imposing (Danehill

Dancer). Cill Rialaig had a diminishing neck to spare at the end of the 1

1/2-mile test, which she finished in 2:29.64.

Moore, who just missed aboard Imposing, clinched

the jockeys' championship in the marathon finale, courtesy of S.E. Sangster's

BERGO (Silvano [Ger]). After tracking the front-running Aajel (Aljabr) for most

of the £50,000 Queen Alexandra conditions race, the 10-1 chance threw down his

challenge. Aajel dug down to resist, but under an energetic Moore drive, Bergo

mastered him by 1 1/2 lengths.

Adding further luster to the achievement, Moore

won the race for his father, trainer Gary Moore, in a course-record time of

4:47.79 for two miles, five furlongs and 159 yards.

"It doesn't mean a lot to me personally," the jockey said, "but I am

delighted to ride a winner for my dad.

"This is the biggest week in racing and it is very competitive and hard to

win. The traditions here are nice and everyone is dressed up. It isn't my kind

of thing, but people enjoy it."