30 May 2022Sword Of State will add further Group 1 quality to the Cambridge Stud roster in 2022 at an introductory fee of $15,000 + GST.
The son of Snitzel triumphed in the G1 Sistema Stakes and the G3 Matamata Slipper to earn Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old honours and trained on to add the G3 Almanzor Trophy and G3 King’s Plate against the older horses as a three-year-old to his impressive resume.
Sword Of State was trained by Te Akau’s Jamie Richards before his departure to Hong Kong and finished a close second in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas on an unsuitably wet track in his first appearance for Mark Walker, in what was to be his final outing.
The colt had been set for a crack at the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup, but an elevated temperature that required rigorous antibiotic treatment derailed plans and time was called on his career.
“Sword of State was clearly in great form in the autumn, underlined by his two stakes wins at Ellerslie, and it was very frustrating that he did not get to run at Group 1 level in Brisbane,” Cambridge Stud CEO Henry Plumptre said.
“Once again, Snitzel has demonstrated what a force he is within the Australian market, not only through his own achievements but also those of his sons Shamus Award and Russian Revolution.
“To have a dominant Group 1 winning two-year-old by Snitzel retiring to Cambridge is an enviable position to be in and we are very excited about what the future holds for him.”
Out of the Group 2-placed Encosta De Lago mare In The Vanguard, Sword Of State was an A$600,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Te Akau chief David Ellis and retires as the winner of six of his 11 starts.
Limited shares are available in Sword Of State, who will stand alongside fellow Group 1 winners Almanzor, Hello Youmzain and Embellish at Cambridge Stud.