Sword's Comeback in Excellent State

Last season’s outstanding kiwi juvenile Sword Of State (Snitzel-In The Vanguard, by Encosta de Lago) was back in action at the Cambridge trials on Tuesday, where he finished second under a hold over 800m. After an easy time under rider Opie Bosson, sporting the colours of Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the Jamie Richards-trained Sword Of State – see below) was narrowly shaded by two-time winning stablemate Vincere. “We had a very small setback with him after his last trial, just a little blood picture that wasn’t quite right, so he has had a couple of easy days since that trial,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said of the Golden Rose-bound colt. “He has quite a schedule between now and then, including the flight, so I think coming off a little setback we are as happy as we could be.” Sword of State’s possible starting point could be the Gr3 San Domenico (1100m) or the Gr2 Run To The Rose (1200m), however his main lead-up race for the Golden Rose is likely to be the Run To The Rose. Despite the fact that Sword Of State has never raced beyond 1200m, Plumptre pointed out, “The Golden Rose has often been won by a horse that is actually probably a six-furlong (1200m) horse.” Sword Of State, a $600,000 yearling purchase by Te Akau principal David Ellis, is one of 15 individual Group 1 winners by champion sire Snitzel, with the Cambridge Stud team keen to see the colt further enhance his race record to add to his appeal as a future stallion.