Banner may fly in the USA

Don’t be surprised if Coolmore springs a surprise by not returning its new sprint star Starspangledbanner to Australia for the 2010 breeding season.

Starspangledbanner (ch c 2006, Choisir-Gold Anthem, by Made Of Gold (USA)) has almost a full book of mares at a debut fee of $33,000 (inc. GST) – he is due back in Australia after the Group 1 July Cup (1200m), run at Newmarket on July 9.

There is a very strong chance that, should Starspangledbanner win or run well in the July Cup, the Coolmore hierarchy will aim the colt for the 2010 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs on November 5-6. That will eliminate him from the Australian breeding season that starts on September 1.

I believe Coolmore’s Australian arm is already considering contingency plans if that is the case.

A win in the July Cup, over racing’s toughest undulating straight course, will likely lift Starspangedbanner’s rating to the top sprinter in the world – he currently sits second behind Hong Kong’s Sacred Kingdom.

At this stage, after his dominant Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) win at Royal Ascot, the Australian-bred colt is a firm favourite to take the double.

It is obvious that trainer Aidan O’Brien or senior owner John Magnier will seek to increase the value of Coolmore’s new star by aiming for the Breeders’ Cup, where the options are the $US2 million Sprint (1200m, Dirt), the $US1 million Turf Sprint (1000m) and perhaps the $US2 million Turf Mile (1600m), considering the son of Choisir has already won a Group 1 at that distance in Australia (the 2009 Caulfield Guineas).

The July Cup also will include the Australian-bred and trained Nicconi (by Bianconi), with Australian champion jockey Damien Oliver replacing international star Frankie Dettori, and Alverta (by Flying Spur). Nicconi will fly back to Australia on the stallion shuttle to cover his first book at Widden Stud at a fee of $22,000 (inc. GST).

Pictured: Starspangledbanner winner the 2009 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. (Bruno Cannatelli).