An eye-catching chestnut, reminiscent of his famous sire, Mr Individual has
shown glimpses of real brilliance in his career to date and was at his best in
this 1500 metre Benchmark 90 event.Sent out a hot favourite, the Leon and Troy Corstens trained four year-old was well rated by Ben Thompson despite being taken on before the turn and defied all challengers to power away and win as he pleased.
"Nothing went right for him in the Rupert Clarke (last start Group I), so was good to see him come back tonight and do this," said Troy Corstens.
"We had the Crystal Vase (Group II 1600m at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day) as his goal and I think we're back to that now.
"He's a nice horse in the making."
The most expensive colt from the first Australian crop of foals for Starspangledbanner, Mr Individual was bought by Spicer Thoroughbreds, who also bought and syndicated his sire.
A brilliant colt who won the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas and Oakleigh Plate in the Spicer Thoroughbred colours with Leon Corstens training, Starspangledbanner was subsequently sold to Coolmore and campaigned successfully in Europe winning the Group I Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket.
Fertility issues hampered his earlier years at stud, but maturity and patient
management has brought a sharp improvement for Starspangledbanner, who has
returned to the main Coolmore Australia roster this spring at a fee of $24,750.Mr Individual has won five of 14 starts earning over $270,000 in prizemoney.
He was co-bred by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds and Toby Liston remembers him well.
"We bred and raised him here on the farm," said Toby Liston.
"He was always the best colt on the farm and sold accordingly to Brad Spicer, one of Australia's leading syndicators."
A half-brother to Group I placed Fast and Sexy, Mr Individual is the fifth winner and final foal of She's Alluring, who comes from the family of champion sire Invincible Spirit and last season's dual Group I winning juvenile Pride of Dubai.
