Debut Starspangled 2YO Stakes-Winner – Half-Brother for Inglis Easter

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 24

Bred and offered for sale by Gilgai Farm, two year-old Starspangledbanner filly Herastar might have been unfancied by punters at Morphettville on Saturday in the Listed SAJC Cinderella Stakes (1050m), but she’ll be favourite next time after unleashing a scintillating finish to claim victory.

Trained at Mornington by Dean Krongold, Herastar was dispatched to Adelaide to make her debut and after settling back in the field for Paul Gatt was able to work into the clear to make her challenge.

Advertisement

She hit the line hard to win by three-quarters of a length in the big field of 14 beating Ad Astra and Flying Stras, who are by first season sires Tassort and Strasbourg.

Herastar was bought by her trainer for a modest $40,000 at Inglis Premier last year and is the first stakes-winner among three winners from Group II winning O’Reilly mare Hera, who traces back to the family of Champion NZ 2YO Filly Ballroom Babe and many more stakes-winners including current sprint star Buenos Noches.

Herastar was well bought at Inglis Premier for just $40,000.

Herastar is the 38th stakes-winner for Starspangledbanner, who has five entries for the upcoming Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Gilgai Farm will offer the yearling half-brother by Toronado (IRE) to Herastar at Inglis Easter as Lot 63 and Hera foaled late last year producing a filly by Extreme Choice.

Advertisment

Race Result - Cinderella Stakes LR 1050m

Morphettville Track: Good(4) Time: 1:01.41
1
Herastar
- 2f Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Hera (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Dean Krongold Rdr: P Gatt 56
2
0.7
Ad Astra
- 2f Tassort (AUS) x Ms Mazetti (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Hickmott Rdr: Jessica Eaton 56
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $35,000
Seller: Kingstar Farm, Denman
Buyer: B Thompson
3
1.1
Flying Straz
- 2f Strasbourg (AUS) x Flying Gaga (AUS) (Flying Pegasus (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Will Price 56
4
2.1
Ville De Lumiere
- 2f Ilovethiscity (AUS) x Miss Elvee (AUS) (Elvstroem (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: J Noonan 56
5
2.3
Pure Aqua
- 2f Headwater (AUS) x Jester Jewel (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: R & C Jolly Rdr: Jake Toeroek 56
6
2.8
Duchess Of Sussex
- 2f Hellbent (AUS) x Raging Queen (AUS) (Akeed Mofeed (GB))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Lachlan Neindorf 56
7
4.7
Good Par
- 2f Pariah (AUS) x Shamrock Slipper (AUS) (Jet Spur (AUS))
Tnr: M J Seyers Rdr: Teagan Voorham 56
8
4.8
Scandalist
- 2f Pariah (AUS) x Laughing (AUS) (Distorted Humor (USA))
Tnr: M J Seyers Rdr: Jacob Opperman 56
9
4.9
Talisay
- 2f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Mykaetob (AUS) (All Too Hard (AUS))
Tnr: Byron Cozamanis Rdr: Ben Price 56
10
5.4
In Love
- 2f Hellbent (AUS) x Equal Love (AUS) (Equiano (FR))
Tnr: M J Seyers Rdr: Jarrod Fry 56
11
7.1
Minato
- 2f Magna Grecia (IRE) x Jolie's Shinju (JPN) (Jolie's Halo (USA))
Tnr: Chris Bieg Rdr: Callan Murray 56
12
7.4
Campari Twist
- 2f So You Think (NZ) x Bitter Twist (AUS) (California Dane (AUS))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: D Tourneur 56
13
8.4
Palm Of Jumeirah
- 2f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Metacarpal (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Kayla Crowther 56
14
9.5
So Grand
- 2f Rubick (AUS) x Grande Annee (USA) (Gone West (USA))
Tnr: Gary & Dean Alexander Rdr: Todd Pannell 56
More Reading...
Wyong MM 2YO Classic – Sale Mail
The race to the $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January hots up at Wyong on Wednesday with the running of the RL $200,000 MM Wyong 2YO Classic (1100m) which will test the form out of the Group III ATC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes.
Winning Hat-Trick for Kiwi Purchase Grid Girl
New Zealand-bred mare Grid Girl made her first visit to Sydney on Sunday and maintained her rich vein of form, extending her winning sequence to three in the A$160,000 TAB Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.
Plenty of Quality in Condensed Book 2 of Karaka 2026
A graduate trifecta in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) provided a timely reminder of the quality that can be found in Book 2 of NZB’s National Yearling Sale, and more of the same can be expected at Karaka 2026.
Glamour Savabeel Mare Orchestral Retired to Stud
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained mare suffered an atrial fibrillation when running 10th in last month’s Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), and the decision was made to bring the curtain down on her racing career.
Sires With Winners - Monday December 8
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut Winner for St Marks Basilica Highlights Sales Potential
The second crop of yearlings by European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) will hold plenty of interest for Aussie investors in 2026 with a debut winner at Wolverhampton in the UK overnight giving him 23 2YO winners this year in the Northern Hemisphere.
US Debut 2YO Winner for Aussie Speedster Houtzen
Magic Millions talk is everywhere as we head towards January and the winner of the MM 2YO Classic in 2017 was I Am Invincible filly Houtzen, who produced a debut winning juvenile in the US over the weekend.
Campionessa Sister Adds to Mapperley Family of Success
Simms Davison is more than happy to play the long game with his broodmare gem Bella Carolina and her family.
Pedigree Pointers – Karaka 2026
The 2026 NZB National Yearling Sales (January 25-29) offers buyers the cream of the New Zealand crop and in the weeks leading up to the sale we’ll go looking for pedigrees of interest for a myriad of reasons.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
There were just two heats for juveniles at Warwick Farm on Monday morning and both were won by Bjorn Baker trained youngsters with one of them the highest priced Australian sold yearling by first season sire Sword of State.