Starspangled may return to action this weekend Former top-class sprinter Starspangledbanner has been left in the Minstrel Stakes at the weekend. The seven-furlong event at the Curragh could see the return to the track of the multiple Group One winner. Trained in Australia originally, he was bought by Coolmore to join Aidan O'Brien for the 2010 season. After a pipe-opener at York he won the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup before finishing second in the Nunthorpe. Even though he was only fifth in the Haydock Sprint Cup he was crowned champion sprinter for the year. The son of Choisir was then retired to stud but reported fertility problems have seen him return to Ballydoyle and join O'Brien once more, this time as a six-year-old. He could face stern opposition, with Dermot Weld's Emulous among the 11 possibles, as is John Oxx's Takar and Akeed Wafi, and classy British raiders Firebeam and Penitent.
