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Globetrotting Grade 1 Winner State Of Rest Retired, Stud Plans Pending

State of Rest, a winner of Grade or Group 1 races in the U.S., England, France, and Australia, has been retired from racing, with his stud plans to be determined later, Racing Post reports.

The Irish-born 4-year-old son of Starspangledbanner was preparing for a defense of his victory in the Group 1 Cox Plate, but an MRI scan found an issue that would not allow him to pass the protocols needed to travel to Melbourne. The colt was retired immediately with five wins in 13 starts for earnings of $3,808,013.

Joseph O'Brien trained the colt for the State of Rest Partnership.

State of Rest began his career in Ireland, and he became Group 2-placed in England, before earning his breakthrough score in last year's Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes, upsetting the field at odds of 21-1.

That win kicked off a planet-spanning three-race winning streak that included the G1 Cox Plate in Australia, and the G1 Prix Ganay in France. After running third in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in England, State of Rest win the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes during the Royal Ascot meet. His final race was an eighth-place effort in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay Le Buffard Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on Aug. 14.

Too Much Bling Filly Tops Record-Setting Texas Summer Yearling Sale

A Texas-bred filly by Too Much Bling led the way at the 2022 Texas Summer Yearling Sale, topping the sale when the hammer dropped at $100,000.

Cataloged as Hip 19, the gray filly, out of the Action This Day mare Soft Music, is a full sister to 2016 champion Texas-bred 2-year-old filly Bling on the Music. Mansfield Racing signed the ticket on the filly out of the Highlander Training Center consignment.

Hip 60, a Louisiana-bred colt by Take Charge Indy, was the top selling colt at $90,000. The colt, out of the stakes-winning Half Ours mare All Woman, was purchased by Mansfield Racing from the Clear Creek Stud consignment.

“We're obviously thrilled that a Texas-bred by one of our state's most influential stallions led the sale,” TTA Director Foster Bridewell said. “She was a beautiful filly and the full-sister went through this same sales ring before going on to become a Texas champion. We're thankful to breeder Danele Durham and Highlander Training Center for allowing us the opportunity to offer her here.”

The 2022 Texas Summer Yearling Sale set records for TTA Sales. A total of 161 horses sold for $3.41 million in revenues, up from $3.2 million last year. The average price was $21,186, up from the $18,246 average price in 2021. The median price was $14,500 this year, up from $10,000 last year.

“We can't thank our breeders, owners, consignors, and buyers enough for such a great sale,” Bridewell said. “The record results are an indication of the strength of the industry in this region right now and a testament to the hard work a lot of people put in to prepare these yearlings for this year.”

For full results, visit www.TTAsales.com.

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‘Invulnerability And Euphoria’: Australian Buyer To Resell Horses Purchased During ‘Medical Episode’ Spending Spree

In one of horse racing's greatest cases of buyer's remorse in recent memory, Australian owner Rob Ferguson will sell off the 22 yearling fillies he purchased during a self-described “medical episode” during this year's Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in June, Racing Post reports.

Ferguson, who purchased the horses anonymously at the sale as “Louis Bloodstock,” suffers from a lung condition, and he was in the process of being taken off steroids by his doctor, which Ferguson said can trigger side-effects including feelings of invulnerability and euphoria. In the midst of his mania, he racked up purchases totaling nearly $1 million Australian (about $690,000 in U.S. dollars). The “Louis” in his nom-de-sale ticket, is named after Ferguson's dog.

Though the buying spree was allegedly impromptu, occurring over the span of about three hours, Racing Post reports that Ferguson paid for his sudden purchases without issue. Ferguson is a longtime owner and breeder, and he once held a 25 percent share in the Magic Millions auction company.

The yearlings will be dispersed during the Magic Millions September Online Sale on Sept. 5, offered at a reserve of 50 percent of their original purchase price.

“Obviously it looks like I am going to show a loss, as I'm willing to take a haircut on each horse,” Ferguson told the Racing Post. “But it was never my intention to own these horses. When I purchased these fillies, I am sure I made a lot of vendors happy. This time around I will probably be making a lot of buyers happy.”

Champion Corniche Retired To Ashford Stud For 2023

Last year's champion 2-year-old Corniche, unbeaten but for sustaining a career-ending injury to a hind joint in the Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga late last month, will now retire to Coolmore America's Ashford Stud for 2023.

The $1.5-million OBS April topper selected by Marette Farrell was named champion 2-year-old male at the Eclipse Awards following an undefeated season for trainer Bob Baffert and owners Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner of Speedway Stables, LLC.

Earning 'TDN Rising Star' status off a jaw-dropping debut romp going 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar, Corniche was then stepped straight up to Grade 1 company for the two-turn American Pharoah Stakes where he posted another front-end success. Drawn widest of all in post 11 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Corniche sped through fractions of :23.03 and :46.15 before keeping on strongly down the lane to score with plenty in hand.

“It's unfortunate that Corniche has been forced to retire at this point in his career but he will be revered for his remarkable juvenile season,” said Ashford Stud manager Dermot Ryan. “He's a most impressive looking individual and I can see him proving extremely popular amongst breeders.”

Bred in Kentucky by Bart Evans and Stonehaven Steadings, Corniche is the best juvenile by this year's leading general sire Quality Road and is out of the high class racemare Wasted Tears, winner of six graded stakes including the G2 John C. Mabee Stakes and the G2 Jenny Wiley Stakes.

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