Starspangledbanner will return to Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley after standing his last three southern seasons at Rosemont Stud in Victoria.

Starspangledbanner (Choisir) joined the Coolmore Stud roster in 2011 following a career that yielded Group 1 wins in both hemispheres but returned to training in 2012 due to fertility issues.  However, after failing to show the same spark on course, he returned to stand to his birthplace at Rosemont Stud in 2013.

Rosemont owner Anthony Mithen put him over restricted books while increasing his service fee from $16,500 to $44,000.

“His fertility is excellent,” Coolmore Stud’s Tom Magnier said.  “All the experts are dumbfounded.  We are extremely grateful to Anthony and all his staff and vets at Rosemont Stud for doing such a fine job with the horse.”

Starspangledbanner’s popularity sky-rocketed last year with his first Irish bred crop headed by The Wow Signal (G1 Prix Morny) and Anthem Alexander (G2 Queen Mary Stakes) from just 33 foals.

His first crop in Australasia yielded 13 winners from 19 runners including G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Of The Brave.  Yearlings from his second southern hemisphere crop have sold up to $540,000 this year.

Starspangledbanner is the third high-profile stallion to transfer out of Victoria in the last twelve months.  Champion sire Bel Esprit relocated to Eliza Park International’s Queensland base and Emirates Park moved Artie Schiller (USA) from Digger’s Rest to the Hunter Valley.