Caulfield Guineas dreams for little known Brisbane galloper State of Wealth were given a boost today when he smashed his rivals in the Noel Wilson Memorial Plate (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Renowned Brisbane horseman Brian Smith has a massive opinion of State of Wealth and the exciting youngster scored the win of the day anywhere in Australia when he strolled home by four lengths.
The promising three-year-old, who was second at his only previous run, will be given an opportunity to race his way into contention for one of the country’s richest and best three-year-old events.
“He’s got to prove himself in a three-year-old open race on a Saturday first but he’s nominated for the Caulfield Guineas,” Smith told AAP.
“He’s a very classy animal.”
Graham Pollock, who trained the fourth placegetter in the race, purchased State of Wealth for owners including son Daryl and Glenn Buckland and the Money and Chicks Syndicate.
“His grandmother Ruffles won a Newmarket Handicap,” Pollock said. “I go to all the yearling sales and I picked him out as one of the best at the sales.”
“I thought he would be in my price range of $50,000 but I ran into a trainer at the sales who told me he expected him to fetch around $100,000.”
“I wasn’t too happy so I went back into the ring and still made a bid,” he added.
“I couldn’t believe it when noone else wanted him and when he was knocked down to us I was shaking all over.”
State of Wealth was bred by the Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation and sold initially by them for $18,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
There he was purchased by Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock Agency and then sold through the draft of Glastonbury Farm at the 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
That was where Pollock took a shine to him and held the bid when the hammer fell at $50,000.
The talented young galloper is by Middle Park Stakes winner Ad Valorem and from the twice Sydney winning Giant’s Causeway mare Girona.
Girona is a daughter of the Newmarket Handicap winner Ruffles (Zeditave) and is thus a half sister to stakes performers Formal Attire and Rough Chance.
Ad Valorem produced three first crop stakes performers last season – Free Wheeling, Uate and Detours as well as other winners including Pied a Terre, Tax Evader, Boredom and Venetian Prince.
Winner: State of Wealth
Breeding: Ad Valorem-Girona (Giant’s Causeway)
Race: BRC Noel Wilson Memorial Plate (1200m)
Sold for: $18,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Darley
Buyer: Belmont Bloodstock Agency
Sold for: $50,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Glastonbury Farm (As Agent)
Buyer: Graham Pollock
Earnings: $10,450
Owner(s): Money & Chicks Racing Syndicate, Mr GL Buckland & Mr DL Pollock
Trainer: Brian Smith (Eagle Farm)
PICS – Dan Costello.
