Starspangledbanner retires to Coolmore It has been decided that the Champion Sprinter in Australia in 2009/2010 and European Champion Sprinter elect Starspangledbanner will not run again and will retire to Coolmore Stud for the 2011 season. The handsome chestnut has been first past the post no less than seven times from 13 runs in the past 14 months in an arduous campaign that stretches back to August 2009 when he had just turned three. His victories include four at Group 1 level: the Oakleigh Plate over 5½ furlongs and the Caulfield Guineas over a mile in his homeland along with his Golden Jubilee and July Cup successes over six furlongs this summer. Coolmore’s Eddie Fitzpatrick said: “Starspangledbanner is a very imposing individual with a strong page and is rated a superior sprinter to his sire Choisir. Aidan was completely blown away by the times he was clocking in his work prior to Royal Ascot and he showed that brilliant speed in both the Golden Jubilee and the July Cup.” In the Royal Ascot showpiece, described in the Racing Post as “arguably the classiest sprint ever run in Britain”, Starspangledbanner annihilated no less than 12 individual Group 1 winners making all the running and never looking likely to be headed. Trainer Aidan O’Brien who trained two previous European champion sprinters in Mozart and Stravinsky said: “Starspangledbanner is an incredible horse – the fastest we’ve ever had here. It was a great pleasure to have him.” “I am certain breeders will be most impressed when they come to see him and he has the advantage of being a virtual outcross for the vast majority of mares here,” commented Coolmore’s Christy Grassick.
