Master Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien labelled Starspangledbanner as “an incredible horse” after the Australian-bred galloper took out Friday's Group I July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket.

Starspangledbanner showed his customary pace from his middle draw which allowed jockey Johnny Murtagh to take the son of Choisir to lead on the far side rail soon after the start.

Murtagh went for home at the 300 metres and Starspangledbanner pulled out plenty to hold off his rivals to add the July Cup to his impressive Golden Jubilee Stakes win.

“He’s a serious horse,” O’Brien said. “Johnny made a decision to go across (to the far rail) and he is an incredible horse.

“He has some courage. It’s hard to credit the courage he has with his pace, very few horses have that.”

Murtagh also praised Starspangledbanner’s fortitude which he said enabled him to recover from a tough Golden Jubilee Stakes run to also win the July Cup.

“Not many horses do what he has done,” Murtagh said. “You need to be tough and resilient and this one’s got that.

“He’s got plenty of guts, he’s hardy and he has loads of class and loads of speed.”

The King’s Stand Stakes winner Equiano finished second ahead of another Australian galloper, the Paul Messara-trained Alverta.

Alverta produced a terrific effort to come down the middle of the track, with jockey Tye Angland getting the best out of the mare to hold her ground over the concluding stages.

Jockey Damien Oliver had Australia’s other representative Nicconi racing closer than Frankie Dettori did in the King’s Stand Stakes but the David Hayes-trained stallion laboured to the line to finish midfield.

The win was Starspangledbanner’s fourth Group I success after the three-year-old won the Caulfield Guineas and the Oakleigh Plate for his previous trainer Leon Corstens.

racenet news