Options aplenty for globetrotting superstar State Of Rest

Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

State Of Rest (Ire) will look to enhance his already glittering CV before retiring to stud, with multiple options being considered by trainer Joseph O’Brien and connections.

The reigning Cox Plate hero returned to racing in the €300,000 (AU$450,000) G1 Prix Ganay (2100 metres) in France in the early hours of Monday morning (Australia time), and the son of Starspangledbanner, who is raced by Australia’s Newgate Farm and partners, was brilliant, winning by 0.75l after a torrid run.

Sponsored video

On the track to sire success: introducing Alabama Express

The victory is State Of Rest’s third consecutive Group 1 win in three continents, having won the Saratoga Derby Invitational (1900 metres) and Cox Plate (2040 metres) prior to his stunning performance at Longchamp.

Newgate Farm's Henry Field told TDN AusNZ that State Of Rest could return to Melbourne in the spring to defend his Cox Plate crown, but before that, the entire will contest the Tattersalls Gold Cup – a 2000-metre weight for age Group 1 event at The Curragh in Ireland on May 22.

“It was great, he’s a bloody good horse,” Field said.

“A good operator in the know told me that if he wins the Tattersalls Gold Cup he may well be the first horse to win four Group 1s in four different countries in a row, so that would be an incredible achievement.

“There’s so many options, but his next two runs will more than likely be the Tattersalls and then the (G1) Prince Of Wales’s S. (at Royal Ascot on June 15).

“The Prince Of Wales's is more than likely, then he could possibly come back for a tilt at the Cox Plate later in the year where he will be much better weighted and be a stronger horse, or he could go to the Breeders’ Cup (in America in November).”

Buoyed by a bullish trainer

Wherever State Of Rest heads, Field is extremely confident the horse can add to his Group 1 tally.

And that confidence stems from the trainer.

“It’s probably no surprise to anyone that Joseph (O’Brien) feels he’s probably his number one draft pick in his stable for the 2022 racing season in Europe, which is a big statement considering how powerful Joseph’s stable is,” said Field.

“More than likely he’ll race through until the end of the season, then retire to (Ireland’s) Rathbarry Stud early next year and then Newgate in the spring.”

Sharing the ride

Newgate and a long list of Australian partners bought into State Of Rest, along with Ireland’s Rathbarry Stud, in the aftermath of his thrilling Cox Plate triumph, where he touched off Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}), who was carrying seven kilos less, in a thrilling two-horse war.

“His performance in the Cox Plate… being very badly weighted against another 3-year-old in Anamoe, who is likely to be our 3-year-old champion in Australia, was excellent,” Field said.

“And then you have a champion in Verry Elleegant back in third and the classy Mo’unga in fourth, so it was a very strong Cox Plate.

“He’s really vindicating that Cox Plate win with a performance in a very historic Group 1 in France, the Prix Ganay.

“And, also being a Group 1 winner in Saratoga already, I think he’s a very exciting horse for our ownership group.”

Among the large list of shareholders is China Horse Club, Wilf and Rosemary Mula, Matthew Sandblom, Silverdale Farm/Grant Bloodstock, Dorrington Farm, Duncan and Di Grimley and Glenlogan Park Stud.

“We’re very happy that he’s managed to win three in a row, and we’re lucky enough to have purchased the horse with Rathbarry Stud in Ireland. They’re very shrewd operators, and when they were keen to make a play on the horse, we were keen to join them in that bid,” Field explained.

“I admire them; they probably took a bigger risk than us; the horse was not already a Group 1 winner in France when they bought in. They’re highly intelligent, well-informed operators and they knew the opinion and level of ability the good judges had about State Of Rest.

“We’ve got a very strong contingent of shareholders in the horse; we pulled together with some of Australia’s leading breeders to buy into the horse. It’s a very powerful syndicate.

“Certainly, I think the investment is going to be vindicated.”

Field said good friend Nick Williams was instrumental in the purchase of State Of Rest.

“What gave us confidence is Nick and Lloyd Williams, who are very close with the O’Briens and one of Joseph’s biggest owners… Nick was so bullish about the horse, he kept telling me that Joseph kept banging the drum about how good this horse was coming down to the Cox Plate,” Field remarked.

A point of difference

Newgate Farm has traditionally been home to stallions with a sprinting pedigree; among them Deep Field, Capitalist and Extreme Choice.

Field claims it is exciting to have a stallion on the roster that offers something different.

“He’s a bit different to the sort of horse we’ve had historically. We’d been waiting for that mile, mile and a quarter horse that was right out of the box and something a bit special and we think we’ve found him in State Of Rest, so we’re feeling good about it,” he said.

Sharing Field’s excitement is Steve Grant, owner of Grant Bloodstock at Silverdale Farm. Asked if he stayed up to watch the Prix Ganay, Grant said: “Bloody oath, I wouldn’t miss it for quids. He’s something special. Oh my word, he was three-wide for so long.”

Grant has been in the game a long time. He bought his first broodmare in 1980, and has been hooked ever since. He’s enjoyed many highs, including breeding and raising this year’s G1 Golden Slipper S. heroine Fireburn (Rebel Dane).

He admits State Of Rest’s Prix Ganay victory is right up with there with his best moments in the sport.

“This is building up to something really exciting, this is. It’s getting pretty special,” he described.

Owner-breeder Wilf Mula is another longtime participant revelling in the deeds of State Of Rest. He too cheered on State Of Rest from his loungeroom.

“Absolutely, I watched him. I’ve got a bit of a sore throat from yelling at the television,” he laughed.

What an exciting animal. What I like about him is the fact he’s so brutal, he’s got that will to win.

“He should be a good chance in that Group 1 at The Curragh.”

Mula has been associated with nine Group 1 winners; including Flying Artie, Artorius (Flying Artie), Dundeel (NZ), Roman Emperor and Rock Classic (Fastnet Rock).

“I’ve had a fair run, some great success… this has got to be up there with Flying Artie’s Coolmore Stud S. win (in 2016),” Mula said.