Champion New Zealand 2YO last season, classy colt Sword of State displayed all of his fighting qualities when he downed speedy mare Babylon Berlin to win the Group III Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Sporting the colours of Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who co-own the son of Snitzel, Sword Of State was handily away for rider Leith Innes as the pair settled in third behind pacemakers Babylon Berlin and Iconic Star.
The two mares went at a breakneck speed with Iconic Star first to drop off as Sword Of State levelled up to challenge Babylon Berlin shortly after straightening for the run home.
The pair went at it hammer and tongs with first one and then the other looking to have the upper hand.
Innes called on all the colt’s reserves in the final 50m to thrust his head in front to take the victory in an electric 1.08.17 for the 1200m journey, one of the quickest times run at the venue since Diamond Lover set the track record of 1.07.73 back in 1987.
Trainer Jamie Richards was thrilled with the win.
“Babylon Berlin is a class mare, but our guy was in for the fight,” Richards said.
“I thought Leith gave him a lovely ride and I am very proud of the way he went.
“He showed he is a proper sprinter who is bound for the breeding barn at some stage.”
Sword Of State had resumed with a comfortable win in the Group III Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Million night after returning home from an indifferent three-start campaign in Sydney during the spring where he came up against some of the leading Australian three-year-olds including Home Affairs.
Richards was hesitant to confirm whether the colt would head back to Australia for a second campaign but hinted it may still be on the cards at some stage.
“We’ll just have a think about that (a return to Australia) over the next little while as we don’t need to make those sorts of decisions today,” he said.
“Obviously, the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) is over here for him, which would be a lovely race, but we will let Brendan (Lindsay), Dave (Ellis) and the boys have a talk about that and come up with some plans.
“We’ll just enjoy today and worry about the rest tomorrow.”
Bred by Sir Owen Glenn, Sword Of State was a $600,000 purchase by Te Akau boss David Ellis CNZM from the Newgate Farm draft at Magic Millions and has the overall record of six wins and a third from 10 starts.
He is the first foal from Group II placed Encosta De Lago mare In The Vanguard, a daughter of brilliant Group II winner Sharp.
Newgate sold the current two year-old from In The Vanguard, a filly by Russian Revolution, at Magic Millions last year for $100,000 to Nxt Level Syndications and she has been named Miss Bombshell.
In the Vanguard produced a filly by Merchant Navy last spring and is now back in foal to Sword of State’s sire Snitzel.
