Starspangled fourth at Dundalk26th October 2012
Starspangledbanner could finish only fourth to Balmont Mast in the Listed Mercury Stakes at Dundalk.
Aidan O'Brien's four-time Group One winner, who is being primed for a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, was sent off the 3-1 favourite and quickly got into contention from a poor outside draw, racing prominently all the way under the trainer's son Joseph.
But he found disappointingly little for his jockey's urgings in the closing stages as Johnny Murtagh scythed through close home to win by a length on Eddie Lynam's four-year-old (7-2), who was following up a course victory from earlier in the month. Nocturnal Affair took second, with Timeless Call third.