By Brian Sheerin
A deal has been struck for globetrotting star State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}–Repose by Quiet American), who added to his truly unique record of Group 1 triumphs when battling to Prix Ganay glory at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, to stand at Rathbarry Stud once his racing days are finished.
Trained by Joseph O'Brien, State Of Rest won the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. before beating the best of the Australians in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last season.
His reappearance win at ParisLongchamp hardened his reputation as one of the best older horses in the world and, in conjunction with Newgate Farm Australia and partners, Rathbarry will provide a home for the highly sought after colt when he retires.
“We are delighted to have purchased an elite and unique international racehorse to join our stallion roster when he completes his racing career,” said Paul Cashman of Rathbarry Stud on Friday.
O'Brien has revealed that State Of Rest has bounced out of his seasonal return in top shape and confirmed that the colt could be aimed at the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh before an audacious tilt at the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot later this summer.
He said, “It was fantastic to win the G1 Prix Ganay in France with State Of Rest. That was a great way to begin the campaign with him. He had a big second half to the season last term and I am delighted with how he started this year.”
O'Brien added, “He has wintered well and after starting the season off in such a positive note, the plan now is to go for the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. We will take it race by race but most of those big 10-furlong races throughout the summer will be on his agenda.
“But the Tattersalls Gold Cup and possibly Royal Ascot from there could be on his agenda for the first half of the season.”
The 4-year-old also has the option of charting a path back to Australia later in the year, with a second Cox Plate featuring among O'Brien's plans for the horse.
A triple Group/Grade 1 winner, State Of Rest showed enough precociousness to win on debut as a 2-year-old. He also finished third in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster as a juvenile. His career earnings stand at almost £2.3m and he is the highest-rated Starspangledbanner horse in history with a rating of 120.
Newgate Farm's Henry Field also told TDN AusNZ that State Of Rest could also chart a path back to Melbourne to defend his Cox Plate crown but, before then, O'Brien had major Group 1 races in Europe on his mind for the colt.
“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,” Field told TDN AusNZ earlier this week.
He added, “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].”
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