The news that Animal Kingdom (USA) would not be returning to Arrowfield Stud in 2018 was the cue for the Kentucky Derby winner to be represented by his first stakes-winner in Australia and this one looks something special.
The Darren Weir-trained Peaceful State trailed the field coming around the home turn in Saturday's Listed H C Nitschke Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville before storming home under John Allen to defeat Smooth Landing (Snitzel) by a length with Platinum Angel (Snitzel) a short-head back in third.
Narrowly defeated by Grunt in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 3, Peaceful State beat just one home in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas at his most recent starts but was found to have a respiratory infection.
"It was a great win. He is a very talented horse, Weir told racing.com.
"The way the race was run it was probably set up for the back-markers.
"He just needed a bit of luck getting through the pack and he stormed home late.
"He'll probably go to the Adelaide Guineas then he will head up to Queensland for the Queensland Guineas. The way he ran today he is back on track".
A homebred for Katsumi Yoshida, Peaceful State is a half-brother to Australian Horse Of The Year, 7-time Group 1 winner Weekend Hussler.
He is the sixth and final foal of the Helissio mare Weekend Beauty who is a half-sister to the Group III winners Phantom Chief and Saturday Fever out of the Group III winner and multiple Group 1 placed Not On Friday (At Talaq).
Weekend Beauty is also the dam of Talaq Dancer (Black Hawk) who is the dam of Group 1 Toorak Handicap winner Lucky Hussler.
Peaceful Kingdom is the fourth stakes-winner for Animal Kingdom (USA) (pictured) and the first in the southern hemisphere.
