Starspangledbanner's State Of Rest Wins a Drama Packed Cox Plate

Mark Smith - Saturday October 23

Joseph O’Brien has single-handedly improved Irelands balance of payments, and another planeload of Australian dollars is headed back to the Emerald Isle after State Of Rest (IRE) won a drama-packed $5million Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) on Saturday.

State Of Rest and Anamoe single out (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

With John Allen in the saddle, State Of Rest (IRE) rolled in on the star 3yo Anamoe at the 100 metre mark and Craig Williams was quick to fire in a protest.

After what seemed an eternity, stewards deemed that they were not satisfied that the interference cost Anamoe the race.

With rain falling throughout the day on a deteriorating track, State Of Rest (IRE) and Anamoe singled out over the final 200m.

Anamoe did not appear happy in the going and struggled before Williams speared him back to mount his challenge between runners nearer the rail.

The winning margin was a short-head with reigning Horse Of The Year Verry Elleegant a length back in third as the remainder of the field struggled home in well-spaced margins.

Advertisement

He becomes only the second northern hemisphere-trained winner of the WFA Championship of Australia after Coolmore’s Adelaide struck for O’Brien’s father Aidan in 2014.

Stable representative Mark Power said it was a massive result for the young stable.

  “It’s unbelievable. Today is nothing but a true reflection of what it took to get this horse here today,” Power said.

State Of Rest - John Allen (Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

“Johnny Allen was super on him. You won’t get stronger inside the last 200m than Johnny there.

“And we’ve a fair man pre-training them for us in Joseph O’Brien as well. A credit to the whole team at home - it’s amazing.

“From the moment he got off the plane and touched down in Werribee his work had been really good.

“MJ (Doran) rides him every day at home, he can be a little bit of a handful sometimes so MJ is the right man for him.

“He was always delighted with him, we were reporting to Joseph that we were happy with him and he’s proven it here today.

“It’s not good for the heart. I’m absolutely trembling like a leaf.

John Allen (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

“Johnny Allen was super, he’s strong as an ox. You couldn’t have a better man on your side.

“It’s just amazing to win this Cox Plate, it's been on Joseph’s agenda for a long time to win this race.”

John Allen said he was happy in the run.

“The race panned out pretty well. When the gap appeared I had to ask him to improve quick before it closed and we might have got there a little too soon,” Allen said.

“But to his credit when that horse got to me, he really fought and was solid to the line.

“Craig’s always a good talker, we all know that. I think there were too many Paddy’s in there for them to understand us. The way it was going, there were a few anxious moments, but I think the right decision was made.”

A son of Rosemont Stud’s Starspangledbanner, State Of Rest (IRE) has made just three starts in 2021.

Following a close-up third over a mile at the Curragh on June 26, State Of Rest travelled to the United States to capture the $1million Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 7.

Starspangledbanner (image Mark Smith)

Still a 3yo to northern hemisphere time, State Of Rest (IRE) advances his record to three wins, a second and three thirds from nine starts with earnings of $3,827,909.

A 45,000gns Tattersalls weanling, State Of Rest sold for 60,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Bred by Tinnakill Bloodstock, State Of Rest is a half-brother to stakes-placed  Tranquil Lady (Australia) out of the unraced Quiet American mare Repose a sister to Listed winners Echo River (Irish River) and Prince Alzain (Street Sense). From the family of Bitooh and Musical Chimes, Repose is a granddaughter of Mr Prospector’s champion daughter. It’s In The Air.

State Of Rest (IRE) is one of three Group 1 winners by Starspangledbanner who shuttles from Coolmore, Ireland to Rosemont Stud, where his fee this season is $16,500.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Cox Plate Gr1 2040m

Moonee Valley Track: Soft(5) Time: 2:06.97
1
State Of Rest
- 4h Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Repose (USA) (Quiet American (USA))
Tnr: Joseph O'Brien Rdr: John Allen 56.5
Starspangledbanner
2
0.1
Anamoe
- 3c Street Boss (USA) x Anamato (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Craig Williams 49.5
3
1.1
Verry Elleegant
- 6m Zed (NZ) x Opulence (NZ) (Danroad (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damian Lane 57
NZB Karaka Book 1 $140,000
Seller: Grangewilliam Stud
Buyer: John Chalmers Bloodstock Services
4
4.1
Mo'unga
- 4h Savabeel (AUS) x Chandelier (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: J Bowman 57.5
5
7.1
Probabeel
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Far Fetched (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: B Prebble 57
6
8.3
Dalasan
- 5h Dalakhani (IRE) x Khandallah (AUS) (Kitten's Joy (USA))
Tnr: L Macdonald & A Gluyas Rdr: D Moor 59
7
13.8
Callsign Mav
- 5g Atlante (AUS) x Raadisi (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: L Nolen 59
8
15.1
Captivant
- 3c Capitalist (AUS) x Speedboat (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: D Yendall 49.5
More Reading...
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.
One to Watch – Canberra
At the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast US investors Richard and Tammy Rigney of Rigney Racing purchased two yearling fillies by I Am Invincible for $2million and $1.2million and got a result with one of them in Canberra on Sunday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
$2000 Mare Wins Winton Cup
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park.
Third Group 1 Winner for Starspangledbanner
Not a day goes by without Starspangledbanner siring a winner somewhere in the northern hemisphere, but the four-time Group 1 winning son of Choisir broke new ground at Saratoga on Saturday when his son State Of Rest captured the $1 million Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
Sun City Filly to Target Karaka Million
The Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) has been the goal for Sierra Leone from the moment she was purchased at the Yearling Sales, and she took an important step towards the $1 million feature with a game second in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).