Starspangledbanner Colt Delivers At Gowran Park

Take Charge Star (2c Starspangledbanner - Freedonia, by Selkirk) led home a one-two for Starspangledbanner with a clear-cut strike at Gowran Park on Tuesday.

The Johnny Murtagh-trained juvenile had finished a promising third on debut at the Curragh last month and came home strongly to record a first win under Ben Coen on his second start.

Racing prominently, Take Charge Star took up the lead a furlong from home and won by a comfortable two-and-a-half lengths over Spangled Sands (by Starspangledbanner).

Murtagh said: “Ben [Coen] was very happy with him that first day when he didn’t get much of a run and said he was a bit unlucky really, but I think it stood to him. He's back so soon as we want to qualify him for the Goffs Million and that was his big target this year.

“I’m delighted with the way he won, they are new owners [Maribeth Sandford] from America and this is the first batch of horses they’ve had with me. It’s extra special when you can ring the owners and say you won and extra 50 thousand, so it’s win-win!”

The half-brother to Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna was bred by the Niarchos family.