Brad Waters
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Starspangledbanner has capped off a tremendous week for the Corstens family with a strong win in the Group III McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.click photo to enlarge, click line below to watch race
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Trainer Leon Corstens welcomed granddaughter Willa into the world on Tuesday, sired by son Troy who is also the manager of the Corstens racing stables at Romsey.
Starspangledbanner had no favours in the McNeil Stakes after the son of Choisir shared the speed from the outside gate of 15 and carrying the top weight of 58kg.
Danny Nikolic kept Starspangledbanner no closer than six horses off the inside fence before peeling wider on the home turn, finding the best part of the track to allow the colt to hold off the challenge of Tollesprit to win by three-quarters of a length.
Tollesprit held second place a half-length in front of Éclair Fastpass who finished strongly after Craig Newitt negotiated a path through the field in the straight.
Troy Corstens said the manner of Starspangledbanner’s win surprised him with the tough nature of the victory convincing him to tackle the seven furlongs of the Caulfield Guineas Prelude on September 19.
The placings and margins: Starspangledbanner (D Nikolic) 58kg ($4.80) defeated Tollesprit (S Arnold) 55kg ($7.50) by three-quarters of a length with a half length back to Éclair Fastpass (C Newitt) 55kg ($20) in third place.
Winner’s breeding – Starspangledbanner is a three-year-old colt by Choisir out of Gold Anthem (Made Of Gold (USA)).
The time and sectionals – The field covered the 1200 metres in 1.10.285with the last 600 run in 34.88 seconds.
Tollesprit ran the fastest last 600 metres in a time of 34.29 seconds.
What they said – “It was a really tough effort to do what he did today,” said Danny Nikolic, winning rider of Starspangledbanner.
“A terrific run. His condition just gave out late,” said Steven Arnold, rider of Tollesprit (2nd).
“A super run again. He’s going along beautifully,” said Craig Newitt, rider of Éclair Fastpass (3rd)
Bendigo trainer Shane Fliedner was rapt with the effort of the runner-up Tollesprit who was first-up on Saturday and said he would go into the Guineas at his fourth run in after two 1400m runs.
"He's not a gross-doing horse so going into the Guineas at his fourth run will do him," he said.
"I don't think I've seen a horse I'd swap him with yet."
The market – Starspangledbanner was well-supported in the ring, firming from $5.50 to $4.80. Tollesprit opened at $6 and eased to $7.50 while Eclair Fastpass drifted from $17 to $20.
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