Of The Brave gave Rosemont Stud sire Starspangledbanner the perfect start to his Australian stud career on Saturday.

The Mark Riley trained colt won the LR Debutant Stakes (1000m) with a professional performance on the big stage at Caulfield.

Of The Brave (2c Starspangledbanner – Runaway Jesse by Rory’s Jester) started a $4 favourite and led them up with the advantage of an inside barrier.  He pulled away in the straight for a convincing victory over Miss Idyllic (Exceed And Excel) and Miss Loren (Stryker).

“He’s potentially the best I’ve ever trained,” Riley said.  “He’s just an absolute natural racehorse with the greatest attitude.  He’s a Magic Millions horse but I don’t know whether we will take him up there.”

Of The Brave sold for $170,000 out of the Rosemont draft at the 2014 Gold Coast Magic Millions.  Bred by sporting commentator Michael Christian, he is a younger half-brother to Sydney and Melbourne Group 3 winner Eloping (Choisir).

The first Starspangledbanner two year-olds took Royal Ascot by storm this year with Group 2 winners The Wow Signal (Coventry Stakes) and Anthem Alexander (Queen Mary Stakes).

The Wow Signal followed up with a Group 1 triumph in the Prix Morny at Deauville and he has been given a $26 quote for the 2015 English 2000 Guineas.

Starspangledbanner encountered fertility issues after retiring to Coolmore Stud before transferring to Rosemont.  He covered 51 mares last year with 24 of them subsequently scanned in foal.

Rosemont owner Anthony Mithen has restricted the 8 year-old stallion to 50 mares again this year and he will shuttle back to Coolmore’s Irish headquarters for a northern book in 2015.