In a week where Cambridge Stud’s focus is largely around Joliestar’s tilt at the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m), it was their first-season sire Sword Of State who was making headlines across the Tasman on Wednesday.
A champion juvenile by Snitzel, Sword Of State retired to the Cambridge nursery after his three-year-old term and was the leading New Zealand-based first season sire at the yearling sales in 2025.
Among his progeny to go through the ring at Karaka was a filly out of the Keeper mare Ruthless Lady, bred by Go Bloodstock and purchased out of Curraghmore’s draft by Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $250,000.
10 months later, that filly, named Torture, defied odds of 15-1 to win the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes.
It was the dream result for Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, but CEO Henry Plumptre said it wasn’t as much of a surprise for them as it was for the bookmakers.
“It’s fantastic to get on the board in New Zealand, but even better to pick up a stakes race in the spring in Melbourne,” Plumptre said.
“To be honest, it’s not a huge surprise, he (Sword Of State) was a champion two-year-old by Snitzel, who has won seven premierships in Australia. To those who have followed his first crop through and particularly this filly, the only surprise was her starting price.
“The Australian betting market probably discounted Sword Of State’s ability, even though he was the third-top rated two-year-old of his year, behind the Golden Slipper winner (Stay Inside) and Magic Millions winner (Shaquero).
“It’s very exciting for us, it’s great for Gordon Cunningham continuing that roll of honour coming off Curraghmore, and the syndicate that have shares in Sword Of State.”
Sword Of State was a A$600,000 yearling purchase by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis and Cambridge Stud took a share in his colt syndicate, then furthered their investment after his outstanding Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) victory in 2021.
“We bought into the colt syndicate that he was part of, there were four colts and we had 15% of it,” Plumptre said. “After he won the Sistema, we moved to 50 percent, and then to 100 percent when we bought the syndicate out at the end of his racing career.
“He’s really going well, the first year was difficult for him because he went to stud as a three-year-old, but had a very tricky time in Queensland when we took him over for the Kingsford-Smith, he got quite sick.
“His recovery from that was quite slow, so he went straight into a breeding season and it wasn’t easy for him. Last year was much better, and he’s been fantastic this year. That Snitzel-Redoute’s Choice line have fantastic temperaments and he’s certainly got that.
“This horse is a testament to David Ellis’ skill for picking these horses, we’re very grateful to have been able to get him from Te Akau and that every year, they send us between 15-20 mares to support the stallions.
“It’s a great relationship, and for that reason as well as all others discussed, we hope he will be a big success.”
Looking ahead to Saturday, Plumptre and the Lindsays will be on course at Randwick to cheer on Joliestar in her second attempt at the Everest, having finished seventh in last year’s running.
The three-time Group One winner asserted herself as one of the key dangers to Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising when winning the Gr.2 The Shorts (1200m) first-up, and since then, was given a quiet trial at the course last Monday against several of her Everest rivals.
“Chris (Waller, trainer) told us what she’d be doing in the trial and that wasn’t much, and when you’re an owner or manager with a trainer like Chris, you don’t second-guess them and let them get on with the job,” Plumptre said.
“He’s a consummate professional with a great team, so you know she’ll turn up on the day in the best possible form. All we can do is hope she gets luck in running and she’s there or thereabouts at the 200m, so she can do her best against a horse breaking all records in Hong Kong.
“It’s very exciting for us, it’s wonderful for Brendan and Jo to have her in that race, they’re big investors in racing so it’s a great thing to be here and have the second-favourite in a race like this.”
An earner of just shy of A$5 million, Joliestar is set to join Cambridge Stud’s broodmare band in the future, with a race record to match her pedigree as a daughter of Zoustar and Group Two winner Jolie Bay.
“For a breeder, the pinnacle of your broodmare band are your ‘blue hen’ race mares, those that have competed at Group One level,” Plumptre said.
“We are lucky enough to have a handful in our broodmare band, and Joliestar is right up there with the likes of Probabeel, Kahma Lass, and Excelida – who was Group One placed in Melbourne.
“We sadly lost the Oaks winner Amarelinha last year in a tragic paddock accident, but are fortunate to have the likes of Word Games, who produced El Castello, and Las Briasas, who produced Ceolwulf in the band as well.
“We’re very excited for the future and Joliestar will be an exciting addition if and when she retires, which won’t be for a bit yet.”
To be ridden by James McDonald out of barrier five, Joliestar is currently a $6.50 second-elect for the Everest, splitting Ka Ying Rising ($1.75) and Kiwi-breds Jimmysstar and War Machine ($11) on the New Zealand TAB. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
