Starspangledbanner Filly Sparks Royal Ascot Dreams

Connections have high hopes for Oh Cecelia (2f Starspangledbanner – Cecelia Clementine, by Zoffany) after she won Tuesday’s two-year-old maiden at Cork.

The Jack Davison-trained filly was narrowly denied at the Curragh on debut and remained over the minimum trip on her second start. Reunited with James Ryan, she raced in touch with the leaders and was asked to quicken passing the two-furlong marker. She improved to lead inside the final furlong and kept on well to score by a length and a half, while Raphello (Starspangledbanner) made a promising debut in third.

“That was super and she is a good filly,” the winning trainer commented. “I ran her the first day (of the season) on heavy ground where she was just touched off and performed so well just on ability. She is a fast filly who wants today's fast ground to show her speed and gears.

“We have two runs now and I would love to have a filly for Royal Ascot. She wants fast ground, she is fast and is improving so we will consider the Queen Mary Stakes.”

The daughter of Starspangledbanner is owned by the New Recruits Partnership and was bred by Capital Bloodstock.