When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
Rising two year-olds are broken in and get their first taste of life in a racing stable and in the case of Sword of State, the first six months of this year have yielded nothing but positives for the Cambridge Stud young gun.
A Champion 2YO by Snitzel that is physically the quintessential Aussie precocious speed type, Sword of State made a real splash at the yearling sales earlier this year with 23 yearlings selling in New Zealand and Australia for $100,000 or more.
Ten of those sold for $250,000 or more, an amazing result for a young stallion off a service fee of $15,000.
One of those high profile Sword of State yearlings sold at Karaka was a colt from O’Carol that made $320,000 when bought by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock and the Aussie bloodstock agent was back in New Zealand last week to secure his weanling full sister.
He paid $90,000 for the Elsdon Park consigned filly, who was the second highest priced weanling at the sale for Sword of State with renowned pinhookers Kaha Nui Farm securing his top selling youngster, a colt from Goldilicious for $120,000 from Curraghmore.
Interviewed after the sale for NZB, Cameron Cooke was quick to praise Sword of State.
“We bought the yearling colt at Karaka earlier this year. He's a beautiful type and we've put him through the system with Chad Ormsby at Cambridge,” said Cooke.
“He's currently been broken in and going through the process right now of hitting the track and is showing positive signs, which is good.
“The same ownership group were keen to get another one out of the family. We don't really dabble in the weanlings a hell of a lot, but she was a good physical and based on the colt showing some promise, we thought we'd have a crack.”
A tilt at the 2YO Karka Million is a real possibility for the colt.
“He's shown that he's quite sharp and providing he keeps improving, that's the way we'll go,” Cooke added.
“Hopefully by that time, he's stepped out and done something and then she's coming through behind him and there is value added there as well.”
Mulberry Racing were making news last week for securing an Everest slot and this progressive Australian bloodstock enterprise were active at the sales this year securing some lovely yearlings to be trained by Brad Widdup and they include the highest priced yearling by Sword of State.
Bred and offered for sale by Cambridge Stud at Karaka Book 1, the colt from young I Am Invincible stakes-winner Fuld’s Bet was knocked down to Mulberry Racing for $540,000.
A fast stakes-winner at two, Fuld’s Bet has had three foals to race and all are winners headed by Group III placed I’m All In.
“He broke in very well with Tim Boland. We have had him through for one prep and he’s done everything right,” said Brad Widdup.
“He is very professional and definitely looks sharp.”
The second highest priced Sword of State yearling was a colt from stakes-winner Astor that made $400,000 for Trelawney Stud when bought by KPW Racing.
He has remained in New Zealand and is with Robert Wellwood and Roger James.
“We have just had him through the barn. He’s quite mature mentally and physically and is one of the most forward horses we’ve had through so far,” said Robert Wellwood.
“Everything has come naturally to him.”
Sword of State was a $600,000 Magic Millions purchase for David Ellis and did his racing in the renowned tangerine silks, so not surprisingly there are a number of his offspring now in the Te Akau training system.
“We’ve been really impressed with the Sword of State’s,” enthused Te Akau co-trainer Mark Walker.
“They have a good brain and are really good in the feed bin. Nice forward horses underneath the riders, so I think they’ll definitely make 2YO’s and have the scope to train on and be better 3YO’s.”
David Ellis purchased the highest priced filly from the first crop of Sword of State at Karaka Book 1, securing the half-sister to stakes-winner Angelica Miss from Group III placed Angelica Hall for $350,000 from Windsor Park Stud.
“She is going along well and once we get jump outs at the end of July, I think we will have a couple of Sword of State’s at the early trials as they look very precocious and they are very good in the brain department. We are very happy with them,” Walker added.
Sword of State stands at Cambridge Stud this spring at a fee of $20,000.
