20 May 2022Last season’s New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old Sword of State has been retired from racing.
A fortnight ago, the Group 1-winning son of Snitzel kicked off his Queensland campaign with a narrow runner-up effort in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas.
While the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup was to have been his main target, the decision has been made to retire him to stud following an elevated temperature.
"Unfortunately, Sword of State spiked a temperature that has required rigorous antibiotic treatment,” Te Akau Principal David Ellis said.
“This obviously impacts the build-up to his Group 1 target, next Saturday's Kingsford Smith Cup, so the tough decision has been made to retire him to stud.
"It's very disappointing for Cambridge Stud and his ownership team as the colt is currently in career best form.
“He's a very, very good horse and we were looking forward to him showing his undoubted ability in Queensland. Our trainer Mark Walker was confident Sword of State would prove highly competitive in the Group 1 next weekend.
"We are however very much looking forward to the next chapter for Sword of State who now heads to Brendan and Jo Lindsay's world-class Cambridge Stud.
“He will be an exciting addition to its roster and standing at Cambridge Stud will give him the very best opportunity of success."
Sword Of State was purchased by Ellis as a yearling in Australia for A$600,000.
Owned by Cambridge Stud and the Te Akau 2020 Colt Breeding Syndicate, he raced 11 times for six wins, including the G1 Sistema Stakes, G3 Almanzor Trophy, G3 King’s Plate and Gr.3 Waikato Stud Slipper.
A fee for Sword of State will be announced at a later date.