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MAKYBE bred Starspangledbanner continued on his winning way in his three year old campaign making it two from two in the MRC Listed Vain Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The win of Starspangledbanner was the start of an amazing day for MAKYE as in the next race MAKYBE runners ran one-two in the Listed Quizette Stakes. Later in the day Street Cry the sire of MAKYBE's new stallion Street Hero sired the quinella in the Group 2 Liston Stakes with Predatory Pricer and Whobegotyou fighting out the finish.
A Choisir colt, Starspangledbanner has shown plenty of promise in his short career to date.
The colt raced as an early two-year-old winning the $250,000 Inglis Juvenile at Moonee Valley on debut in October 2008.
The Leon Corstens trained colt jumped swiftly from an outside gate for Danny Nikolic and quickly worked forward to lead before shaking off all challengers in the straight to beat Éclair Fastpass by two and a half lengths.
A brilliant speedster with the overall record of three wins and two placings from six starts with prizemoney of $323,450, Starspangledbanner looks set for an exciting spring carnival although whether he can stretch out in distance is the question being asked.
"We're hopeful... his sire Choisir ran third in the Caulfield Guineas, so he might get further, you just have to keep your fingers crossed," said Corstens.
Jockey Danny Nikolic has been aboard the colt at his last two wins and is also optimistic.
"When I rode him in a barrier trial I thought he was just going to be a 1000 metre horse, but the way he relaxed today and finished off so strongly makes me think he'll get six furlongs at least," said Nikolic.
A $120,000 purchase at the 2007 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Starspangledbanner is a half to speedy filly Gold Chant who has won five races and is placed in Listed company.
The colt is out of Gold Anthem and his Grand Dam, National Song, is a half sister to Group One AJC Australian Oaks winner and proven broodmare Circles Of Gold.
Circles Of Gold is best known as the dam of stallions and Group 1 winners Elvstroem and 2007 Group 1 Doncaster Handicap winner Haradasun.
Starspangledbanner is the third foal of Gold Anthem. She has a two year-old filly by Royal Academy (USA) that made $120,000 at Magic Millions earlier this year, a yearling filly by Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) and was covered last spring by Makybe's first season sire Purrealist.
Gold Anthem is just one of the many well credentialed mares that MAKYBE has sent to Purrealist to give him every chance to succeed at stud. The first foals of Purrealist have given every indication that Purrealist is on track for success as a stallion.
