Sword Of State 3YO Filly Swoops Late

The buzz surrounding Sword Of State continues to build, with another first-crop winner emerging in the form of O’Valerie. The three-year-old filly trained by Paul Richards swooped late to claim victory at Te Aroha.

A confident ride from Michael McNab saw O’Valerie descend on her rivals in the closing stages, getting up in the shadows of the post to secure her maiden win at just her third career start.

The victory marks Sword Of State’s ninth individual winner from just 31 runners, putting him at the top of New Zealand’s second-season sires table.

Purchased for $70,000 from the draft of Curraghmore by Paul Richards in partnership with our Bloodstock Manager, Cameron Ring, from Book 2 of the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales. Bred by Gordon Cunningham, O’Valerie is out of the O’Reilly mare Piper, who has now produced three winners from four runners.

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