Star fails to shine as Lily takes top honours

Starspangledbanner s return to action in the Patrick P. O'Leary Memorial Phoenix Sprint Stakes turned out to be a major disappointment as the David Wachman trained Fire Lily took top honours under Wayne Lordan.

The 6yo son of Choisir was making his return to action after fertility problems cut short his spell at stud.

Sent off the 9/4 joint favourite he led early on under Joseph O’Brien before being headed two furlongs out and weakening to finish thirteen lengths adrift of the fifth placed horse in last.

Fire Lily on the other hand was off at 5/2 and she was held up in last in the early stages before being ridden into third a furlong and a half from home.

She stayed on well to press the leader, Gordon Lord Byron inside final furlong before hitting the front close home and going on to take the Group 3 contest by half a length.

The Tom Hogan trained Gordon Lord Byron had to settle for second under Shane Foley at 6/1 while the other 9/4 joint favourite, Definightly finished a further three and a half lengths back in third under Kevin Manning (replacing Johnny Murtagh) for Roger Charlton.

David Wachman said afterwards: "Although she was seventh in the July Cup the form of that race has worked out well. She done it well today despite the ground and she is lovely consistent filly and could come back here next month for the Renaissance Stakes."

(On-course reporting by Alan Magee)