O’Brien: don’t expect fireworks from Star

Joseph O’Brien is not expecting any fireworks from Starspangledbanner as he makes his first start since coming out of retirement in tomorrow’s P. O’´Leary Memorial Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh.

Already a dual Group One winner in Australia before joining Aidan O’Brien at the start of 2010, the six-year-old enjoyed a fantastic first year in Europe by landing the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket.

He signed off for the year with a fifth-placed finish in the Sprint Cup at Haydock, after which his retirement to stud was announced.