The brilliant Starspangledbanner has gone to a new Timeform high over the impressive list of Australian sprinters to race at Royal Ascot in England.

Starspangledbanner has been rated by Timeform , the global ratings benchmark exclusive to Racing and Sports, as the greatest Australian sprinter to race in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes.

His Timeform rating climbed to 128 with the provision to go higher after his outstanding win over a high class international field on June 12.

The figure that places him above the likes of his own sire Choisir and the revered champion Takeover Target and superior to Australia's other Royal Ascot stars, the glamour mare Miss Andretti and reigning Australian Horse of the Year Scenic Blast .

This elite group all won Group races at Royal Ascot but none produced a Timeform performance to rival Starspangledbanner's thrashing of his rivals in the Golden Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs.

Choisir held the previous highest Golden Jubilee rating, being assessed at 126 pounds after he won the famous sprint in 2003.

Choisir also rated 126 when won the King's Stand Stakes five days prior to the Golden Jubilee and remains the only Australian sprinter to complete the big sprint double at the Royal meeting.

However Timeform's Australian handicapper Gary Crispe said Choisir was put in the shade by Starspangledbanner's performance in this year's Golden Jubilee.

"Starspangledbanner recorded a 128 Timeform rating winning the Golden Jubilee, which makes him the highest rated winner of that race in the last 20 years,” Crispe said.

"Choisir was the second highest winner on 126 in 2003. He then ran to the same rating when second in the July Cup behind Oasis Dream.”

Crispe says Starpspangled is poised to surpass Choisir and take his Timeform figure higher than 128 by winning the Group One July Cup at Newmarket on Friday.

"If Starspangledbanner runs to his best he will win again and overcome the July Cup hoodoo on Australian sprinters," Crispe said.

Since Choisir finished second in 2003 there have been poor results for the Australian runners in the July Cup.

Exceed And Excel ran 19th in 2004, Takeover Target was seventh and Falkirk 13th in 2006 and Mutawaajid and Bentley Biscuit were ninth and 10th in 2007. Last year Takeover Target was seventh and Scenic Blast 10th as a short-priced favourite.

Crispe said Starpspangledbanner had been recognized by Timeform as superior to Australia's King's Stand Stakes winners Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Scenic Blast.

"Takeover Target rated 126 when he won the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2006 and Miss Andretti was given a 127 rating when she won that race the following year,” he said.

"Scenic Blast was rated on 128 after he won the King's Stand Stakes last year but most agree that Starspangledbanner's win was more impressive and it is anticipated he can go higher."

Starspangledbanner has raced just twice in the UK for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and there is growing speculation his retirement to Coolmore Stud in Australia this spring will be deferred until next year to allow him to reach new heights on the international stage if he wins the July Cup.

The David Hayes-trained Nicconi, who beat Starspangledbanner decisively in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington in February, returned a Timeform rating of 115 when he finished fourth in the King's Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 8.

Nicconi will be having his last career start in the July Cup before he is shipped home to start his stud career in Australia.

Starspangledbanner is a dominant favourite for the July Cup with last year's winner Fleeting Spirit, US sprinter Kinsale King and Nicconi next in the betting.

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