Sword Of State back with a vengeance at Ellerslie

Breednet - Saturday January 22

Talented three-year-old colt Sword Of State shrugged off an indifferent Australian spring campaign to display his true class when he dominated his rivals in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie.

Opie Bosson drives Sword Of State clear to win. Photo: Trish Dunell

Wearing the colours of Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who co-own the colt and sponsored the race, the son of Snitzel sat in the trail behind pacemaker Bonny Lass before rider Opie Bosson had him off the rail to challenge on the point of the home turn.

Bosson said go at the 300m and Sword Of State bounded clear before stablemate Imperatriz set out in pursuit as the pair knuckled down to fight out the finish. Bosson asked for the supreme effort at the 150m and Sword Of State answered as he maintained a comfortable length and a half margin at the post with Wewillrock holding out a late run from Rhinoceros for third.

Trainer Jamie Richards, who has made this night his own over the past few years, was pleased to get his first win on the board for the evening.

Advertisement

“We’re on the board, which is pleasing and now we can concentrate on the next few races,” he said.

“Good to see him back in form as he is obviously a quality colt.

“Things didn’t go our way in the spring, but he was back with a vengeance today.”

Richards wasn’t making any excuses for his charge who had finished out of the placings in all three of his Australian races, where he clashed with quality gallopers such as the Chris Waller-trained group One winner, Home Affairs.

“You can put his defeats in Australia down to the quality of the horses he met over there,” he said.

“You’re going over there trying to beat them at what they are best at doing which is producing quality sprinting horses.

“No disrespect to our racing, but it is slightly easier here than Melbourne or Sydney in the spring and there was nothing like Home Affairs here tonight.

“It was a good, positive Opie ride as he popped off and challenged at just the right time.”

Bosson was delighted with the effort and particularly with the colt’s racing manners.

“He raced beautifully and wanted to be on the pace and was keen,” he said.

“He towed me into the race, pinned his ears back and ran to the line, which is what you want out of a colt.

“I hadn’t gone for him until the 150m and although I didn’t know what was coming after him, he ran the race right out.”

Purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis from the Gold Coast yearling sale, Sword Of State is raced by the Te Akau 2020 Four Colts Breeding Syndicate, where Cambridge Stud are the majority shareholders.

Crowned New Zealand Champion two-year-old for the 2020/2021 season, Sword Of State has now won five of his 9 starts including the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and the Gr.3 Waikato Stud Slipper last season.

Richards added further glory to his already outstanding record when he took out both $1million races on the card with Dynastic in the Doubletree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) and Pin Me Up in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Change of Barrier Luck for Written By's Tale of the Gypsy
Lady Luck has finally smiled on talented filly Tale Of The Gypsy, who has been plagued by wide barriers throughout her short career to date.
Angel Capital to Run for James Harron in Everest
James Harron Bloodstock is excited to announce a partnership with global thoroughbred powerhouse Yulong for The Everest 2025, with rising star Angel Capital today confirmed as the runner in the James Harron Bloodstock slot.
Stakes Potential for Talented Wootton Bassett Colt
The John O’Shea and Tom Charton stable produced Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Napoleonic to break his maiden at Wyong by five lengths at the start of the month and he made it back to back wins when scoring a stylish victory at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Merchant Navy 3YO Ready to Strike Form
Cody Cole is keeping his options open with talented three-year-old Landlock as wet weather threatens to halt his initial plan to contest Saturday’s Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Te Rapa.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday September 24
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Obucci Breaks Through For Hanseatic At Sandown
With a last start second behind Frankel filly Chateau Eze who went on to record a Listed second at her next start in the Jim Maloney Stakes, the Phillip Stokes trained Hanseatic filly Obucci was sent out at double figure odds at Sandown on Wednesday, breaking her maiden by three parts of a length.
Flying Artie Filly Wins $100,000 Super Maiden for Ingham Family
Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie has a very strong crop of three year-olds running for him this season and a promising filly that can call $10million earner Fangirl ‘Aunt FannyG’ was his latest winner when scoring at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Golden Rose Sires Where Are They Now?
Since the $1million Golden Rose was elevated to Group I status in 2009 it has been won in every single year bar one by a colt with the lone gelding to succeed being Manawanui in 2011 and winning this race is a passport to a commercial stud career, so we thought we’d take a look at the fortunes of the past winners who have gone to stud in Australia.
Charm Stone share sells for $310,000 ahead of G1 Manikato
A 10% share in G1-winning mare Charm Stone has topped the September (Late) Online Sale selling for $310,000, the second highest price for a racehorse share on the platform this year.
Spring Juvenile Contest at Otaki on Friday
Otaki trainer Andrew Campbell is excited about the prospects of his promising juvenile Singletary, and he is looking forward to kicking off his career in the Vets On Riverbank Two-Year-Old (800m) at his home track on Friday.