Starspangledbanner to return to Coolmore
The fertility-challenged Starspangledbanner will return to Coolmore Australia for the next breeding season.
The champion sprinter has stood the past three southern hemisphere seasons at Rosemont Stud in Victoria where he was also foaled and raised.
After showing an improvement in his fertility he returned to Coolmore in Ireland this year.
“Last season (Rosemont’s) Anthony Mithen told us that Starspangledbanners fertility had improved significantly to the point where he had over 50 mares in foal so we decided to shuttle him to Ireland,” Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier said.
“Up there he has exceeded all expectations with 50 mares already in foal and his fertility is excellent.
“All the experts are literally dumbfounded. We are extremely grateful to Anthony and all his staff and vets at Rosemont Stud for doing such a fine job with the horse.”
Starspangledbanner’s first crop in Australasia yielded 13 winners from 19 runners including Group Three Blue Diamond Prelude winner Of The Brave.
In Europe, Starspangledbanner sired the winners of the highest-profile two-year-old races at Royal Ascot for both colts and fillies from his first crop of just 33 foals.
The Wow Signal landed the Group Two Coventry Stakes and the Group One Prix Morny later in the season while Anthem Alexander defeated subsequent European Champion 2YO Filly Tiggy Wiggy to win the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes.