| Sword of State confirmed his status as New Zealand’s champion two-year-old with a sensational win in the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie. |
Sent out the odds on favourite after a stunning six and a half length win in the Group Three Matamata Slipper at his previous run, Sword of State again proved much too good for highly regarded stablemate On the Bubbles. He’s been beaten just once in five runs when third at Group Two grade for the Te Akau 2020 Four Colt Breeding Syndicate managed by Karyn Fenton-Ellis. Today Sword of State slipped to the lead early and held that position throughout. On the Bubbles moved up to challenge in the straight, but when Opie Bosson asked for an effort the favourite immediately responded. At the post Sword of State ($1.60 fav) held a three and a half length margin over On the Bubbles, while Bonny Lass was another length and a half back third. Sword of State, a son of Snitzel, was a $600,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy for Te Akau’s David Ellis in 2020 from the Newgate Farm draft. “He is a valuable colt now,” winning trainer Jamie Richards told reporters after the easy win. “Dave (Ellis) and Mark (Walker) picked him out on the Gold Coast and paid a fair bit of money for him, before syndicating him amongst some great people.” “It’s great to see him continuing to improve as he is bred to be out and running before Christmas, but it just wasn’t fitting together.” “We gave him a break and he has come back in great shape and is really going through the gears now.” “The race worked out as we had planned and he made the rail which is invaluable for a two-year-old.” Sword of State holds an entry for next Saturday’s Golden Slipper in Sydney and has a flight opportunity but Richards said they wouldn’t make an immediate decision. “We’ll have a talk about Sydney in the next couple of days,” Richards said. “Whether he is a Slipper horse I’m not sure, but he could well be a Sires’ Produce horse.” “We won’t make any decisions on raceday and will wait to see how he pulls up from his efforts today.” Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Sword of State is a son of Arrowfield Stud’s champion sire Snitzel. He is from the group performed Encosta de Lago mare In the Vanguard, who like Sword of State and Snitzel was sold at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale. In the Vanguard in turn is from the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes winner Sharp and hails from the family of former superstar filly Angst. Winner: Sword of State Breeding: Snitzel-In the Vanguard (Encosta de Lago) Race: ARC Sistema Stakes G1 (1200m) Sold for: $600,000 Sale: 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale Breeder: Go Bloodstock Vendor: Newgate Farm (As Agent) Buyer: David Ellis Earnings: NZ$174,400 Owner(s): Te Akau 2020 Four Colt Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) Trainer: Jamie Richards (Matamata) |
