Starspangledbanner | Horse Racing Free Tips

Castle Star To Skip Royal Ascot

Dual stakes-winning juvenile Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will bypass Royal Ascot and instead target the G2 Railway S. at The Curragh on June 26.

“We'll stay closer to home at the moment and we'll travel later on in the year,” said trainer Fozzy Stack. “He's shown already he's as effective over five and six. He'll go for the Railway, then maybe the [G1] Phoenix and the [G1 Prix] Morny or the [G1] Middle Park, something like that.”

Castle Star broke his maiden at third asking in The Curragh's Listed First Flier S. on May 3, and followed up in the G3 Marble Hill S. three weeks later.

“There's a chance he could be a Guineas type next year, but let's just get over this year first and then take it from there,” said Stack. “He's always worked well at home from the first day. He went nicely yesterday but we just decided we'd stay at home and go to The Curragh, which is just an hour up the road. It's a hassle travelling at the moment with Covid and there's also the Brexit situation so with another option upcoming, we felt it just made sense.”

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Bubbles On Ice Makes Impressive U.S. Debut In Memories Of Silver

Glen Hill Farm, Madaket Stables and Cheyenne Stables' Bubbles On Ice was victorious in her U.S. debut, edging Fluffy Socks by a head in Sunday's $100,000 Memories of Silver, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Trained by Christophe Clement and expertly piloted by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, the Irish-bred Starspangledbanner chestnut was exiting back-to-back Group 1 sprints at the Curragh where she finished sixth in the Phoenix in August and fourth in the Moyglare Stud in September.

Kendrick Carmouche sent 21-1 Frost Me to the lead through an opening quarter-mile in 25.17 seconds under moderate pressure from 59-1 Bravo Regina as Castellano angled Bubbles On Ice to the rail from the outermost post 7, saving ground from last on the heels of rail-riding 2-1 favorite Fluffy Socks.

Frost Me continued to lead the parade down the backstretch with Bravo Regina to her outside in second. Ingrassia and Sleek Lynx tracked in tandem behind the longshot leaders, while Castellano waited patiently at the back of the pack aboard Bubbles On Ice as the half-mile was clocked in 51.09.

Oyster Box rallied outside of Bravo Regina into the final turn as Bubbles On Ice followed suit with an outside move to get the jump on Fluffy Socks, who was still saving ground on the rail through three-quarters in 1:15.33.

Bubbles On Ice quickly picked off her rivals to emerge with the lead at the stretch call, but a game Fluffy Socks was angled to the center of the course by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and loomed a serious threat. Bubbles On Ice and Fluffy Socks, with very little between them, battled gamely through the final strides with Bubbles On Ice prevailing in a final time of 1:45.14 over the firm course.

It was three lengths back to Sleek Lynx in third, who won a show photo by a nose over Oyster Box. Ingrassia, Bravo Regina and Frost Me rounded out the order of finish. Main-track only entrant Song of Innocence was scratched.

Clement, who won the 2019 edition with Feel Glorious, said a ground-saving trip was key.

“The first time out, I thought it was better that she was covered up,” said Clement. “She got a great ride and saved ground. She had a great-turn-of-foot. There was a small question mark on the distance, but she showed her form this afternoon.”

Bubbles On Ice prepared for her U.S. debut at Payson Park in Florida where she recorded nine works dating back to January 4.

“When she first came here, I didn't think she was handling the turns very well in her breezes,” said Clement. “Her past two works were good at Payson Park, so I was happy with that. She answered the question about the distance this afternoon. I'm delighted.”

Castellano captured the $100,000 Woodhaven with Hard Love on Saturday's Big A card and completed a sweep of the weekend turf stakes with a masterful ride.

The Hall of Fame rider said he was impressed with how Bubbles On Ice negotiated the tighter turns of the Aqueduct inner turf.

“What really impressed me the most was the way she did it off a slow pace and tight corners,” said Castellano. “She should stretch out pretty well. It's hard for horses to come off the pace when they go as slow as they did up front, and she did it well. I really like this filly. I think she has a bright future ahead of her.”

Bred in Ireland by Michael Begley, Bubbles On Ice banked $55,000 in victory while improving her record to two wins from five starts. She returned $9.80 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing shifts to Belmont Park for the 48-day spring/summer meet which begins Thursday, April 22 and runs through Sunday, July 11. First post on Thursday's eight-race Opening Day card is 1 p.m.

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From The Experts: Craig Bernick

On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, we spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we hear from Craig Bernick of Glen Hill Farm.

TDN: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee?

CB: Pinatubo (Ire) was a top-class 2-year-old and his introductory fee of £35,000 is probably very fair compared to where similar horses have started off over the years. Shamardal is the sire of Lope De Vega (Ire) and he comes from the female family of Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB), so it all looks promising.

TDN: Best value proven stallion, and why?

CB: Showcasing’s fee has come down this year to £45,000 which looks very fair as he has proven that he can get top-class horses. To me, Mohaather (GB)’s G1 Sussex S. was the most impressive race I saw all year, and I almost chose him as the first-season stallion I was excited about.

TDN: Who would you consider to be an under the radar stallion?

CB: Starspangledbanner (Aus)’s percentage of winners and stakes performers to runners compares favourably to many other stallions that are double his price or more. His quality of mares has been improving every year as he has done a better job getting them in foal and to me there’s a good chance his fee of €22,500 could look like a huge bargain in a few years.

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Starspangledbanner Colt Tops Final Session Of Tattersalls October Book 2

Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale came to a close with a further five lots selling for 300,000 guineas (US$409,890) or more as demand for quality yearlings continued unabated. In total there were 19 lots that sold for 300,000 guineas (US$409,890) or more and 48 that sold for 200,000 guineas (US$273,269) or more, both records for this fixture.

The top lot on the final day of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale was the Starspangledbanner colt out of the Cadeaux Genereux mare Violet's Gift, who was knocked down to Stroud Coleman's Anthony Stroud for 360,000 guineas (US$492,005).

The half-brother to the listed-placed Kodiak West was consigned to the sale by James Hanly's Ballyhimikin Stud.

“We felt he was a very special horse all the way along, he has been special always, and we love Starspangledbanner,” said Hanly. “I just want to thank Helen and Frisk [Jones] who do the daily hard work for minding this horse so well.

“This is a family we have had for ever, we bred every single horse on the page. They are all very fast horses so hopefully this one will continue and will add to the family. It is lovely to be able to show horses such as this, it is a pleasure to be around them. Please god he is a good runner.”

The progeny of first season sire and 2,000 Guineas winner Churchill have been in great demand this week and his daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor mare Pussycat Lips was the most sought after, realizing 340,000 guineas (US$464,779) to the bid of Simon Crisford.

“She is a lovely filly, very racy and athletic, and she showed herself off well,” said Crisford. “MV Magnier really loved her, she will be for a Coolmore partnership.”

The Grade 3 placed Pussycat Lips has produced four winners from her four runners, including the Group/Listed placed pair Special Purpose and Roulston Scar.

The filly was bred and consigned by Croom House Stud, whose principal Denis Brosnan commented: “It was a wonderful sale and we are thrilled with the price, and we're happy that she's been bought by MV Magnier and will be going to Simon & Ed Crisford.”

At the conclusion of Book 2 of the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“At the conclusion of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last week we expressed our sincere thanks to all those who contributed to a yearling sale which, although conducted amidst a backdrop of global turmoil, performed with remarkable resilience. The message at the conclusion of Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale is very similar. We are enormously grateful to every single participant over the past three days, not only for their individual contributions to a sale which has held up remarkably well under the circumstances, but for working with us every step of the way in our efforts to stage the sale in as safe an environment as possible. The COVID pandemic continues to wreak havoc in all walks of life and to have conducted nine sales here at Park Paddocks since the last week of June is a mighty achievement by all concerned and could not have happened without a huge collective effort.

“Newmarket is very much the hub of the European racing and breeding industries and the last few weeks have demonstrated that, despite all the obstacles, business has been able to continue, albeit at lower levels than in recent years. Newmarket has an extraordinary and unique infrastructure and never more has this been apparent than at Books 1 and 2 of the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sales.

“Book 2 has without doubt benefitted from the momentum established at Book 1 and similar to last week, the buyers have consistently remarked on the quality of the stock being offered. As ever the consignors from Britain, Ireland, France and Germany have presented us with a catalogue of genuine quality and the buyers have demonstrated that, even in these challenging times, there is a global appetite for quality bloodstock and the sport of horse racing. Participation from throughout the Gulf region continues to be hugely influential and the sustained involvement from American, Australian and Hong Kong interests has also been notable alongside determined domestic involvement. Tomorrow we move on to Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale which is another Tattersalls yearling sale that consistently attracts buyers at all levels of the market and we will conclude the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Saturday with Book 4.”

Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15.

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