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State Of Rest Races On For Newgate Partners

Trainer Joseph O'Brien, the denizen of picturesque Owning Hill in County Kilkenny, is still over a year away from his 30th birthday. During his six-plus years as a trainer, one could argue that great moments like the upset 2018 G1 Irish Derby win by Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) or the 2020 G1 Melbourne Cup triumph by Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) hold their very special places. However, the exploits of State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) last season were unusually brilliant.

The now 4-year-old colt raced thrice last season after winning only his Fairyhouse debut from six 2-year old appearances. Last June, when sent off as the fourth choice in the betting, he picked up a third-place finish in a listed race at The Curragh.

When still very much under the radar, he was sent to Saratoga last August to contest the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. In addition to beating seven US-based rivals on that occasion and the Charlie Appleby-trained Secret Protector (War Front), he drubbed a pair of well-regarded Irish colts that day, Joseph's father Aidan's US GI Belmont Derby winner Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the Jessica Harrington-trained Group 2 winner Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

Still improving at a rate of knots, State Of Rest turned up in Melbourne in October. In the G1 Cox Plate, long considered Australia's most prestigious weight-for-age race, he stunned the racing world by defeating the Goldolphin-owned local superstar Anamoe (Aus) (Street Boss) and subsequent G1 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).

During a media morning at his stable on Wednesday morning, O'Brien said, “State Of Rest is hopefully our flagship horse for the season. We're looking at starting him off in either the [G2] Mooresbridge S. at The Curragh or heading to Longchamp for the [G3] Prix Ganay. We'll see what the ground is like.”

He continued, “The [G1] Tattersalls Gold Cup back at the Curragh will probably be his first big target of the season.”

Campaigned throughout his career by Teme Valley Racing, he was purchased privately in the aftermath of his Cox Plate glory by New South Wales-based Newgate Stud and partners.

O'Brien reported, “He's going to run for the [new] State Of Rest Partnership this year which would mean that it's likely he'll end up in Australia again towards the end of the season, all going well.”

He added, “Anamoe won a Group 1 by 6 1/2 lengths lengths earlier this month. Hopefully, our horse is going to be competitive in those major 10-furlong races this year, having had two big wins last year. If he happens to win or be competitive in Group 1s early in the season, the pattern of his season almost makes its own way through the year. Maybe you wouldn't go to them all, but there are options at Sandown, Ascot and York. He also has American options.”

The former rider of dual Derby winners Camelot (GB) and Australia (GB) also spoke highly of his 3-year-old Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the fourth-place finisher in last October's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud behind the James Ferguson-trained El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

Outlining his plans for the colt, he said, “Buckaroo will more than likely run at the weekend in the [G3] Ballysax [S.] and we'll see where that takes us. He'll go down the Derby path and see. He's a huge horse and he beat [impressive winner of a Navan maiden race on Tuesday] Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a maiden at Galway last season.”

O'Brien, who recently celebrated victory at the Cheltenham Festival with Banbridge (Ire), started the Flat season well with victory for Perfect Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) on the opening day of the Irish turf season at The Curragh, beating the regally-bred Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), trained by Aidan O'Brien.

Among the Classic prospects in the yard are a talented trio of fillies who are likely to be seen out this weekend: Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio), a Group 2 winner last season at The Curragh for U.S.-based owner Scott Heider; Seisai (Ire)(Gleneagles {Ire}), an ultra-consistent Group 3-placed juvenile; and Pennine Hills (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), a tough Group 3-placed sprinter at two.

Laying out options for them, he stated, “I could run three in the 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown. Agartha won over the course and distance last year. We're probably looking more towards The Curragh than Newmarket for her. Seisai is a good solid filly who has some nice form in good races last season. Pennine Hills ran well over that course and distance when second in the Killavullan S. She's a solid, hardy filly who quickens and stays. I'm happy with all three.”

Also among the Carriganog Racing team for the season are capable older horses like the 6-year-old gelding San Andreas (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the Group 1-winning juvenile Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who will open his campaign in the G3 Gladness S. on Apr. 10, and Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), a Group/Grade 2-winning stayer at both Longchamp and Belmont Park.

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O’Brien To Send Two To Saudi

Joseph O'Brien has already collected an impressive haul of international trophies in less than seven years with a trainers' license, including two Melbourne Cups and a Breeders' Cup, and he will look to expand that collection when sending Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) to next weekend's Saudi Cup card.

LECH Racing Limited's 5-year-old Baron Samedi rose rapidly through the ranks after being gelded in 2020, with four straight handicap wins followed by victory in the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris, and he picked up where he left off last year, winning the G3 Vintage Crop S. at Navan before traveling to America to take the GII Belmont Gold Cup S. over two miles. After finishing third in the G1 Irish St Leger, Baron Samedi was last seen checking in sixth in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup, and he lines up in the Red Sea Turf H.

“He's a good, solid horse who just keeps progressing and always seems to turn up on the day,” O'Brien said. “He seems in good form at home and this is the race we've always had in mind to start him off this season. We've had some great days around the world so far and this looks a really good opportunity to have a go at a big pot again.”

“It looks as if those middle distance to staying races are where we will run him this season. He might perhaps prefer a little shorter than the trip in Saudi, but it's a tight enough track and I think the trip should be OK for him. He won on a tight track in America in that Grade II last year, so he's proven he can handle this sort of test and I'm hopeful he'll run very well.”

Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's Thunder Moon is on a recovery mission; he won the G1 National S. at two, but was beaten in all six starts at three last year, albeit finishing second by a head in the G1 Prix Jean Prat. Thunder Moon filled the same position in his seasonal reappearance at Dundalk on Jan. 21. Thunder Moon is set for the 1351 Turf Sprint.

“He was unlucky not to be a Group 1 winner last year having been beaten a head in France and if he gets a good draw, we'd be hopeful he could run into some prize money,” O'Brien said. “I think it's fair to say he's not the most consistent, but on the pick of his form he's not without a chance, and I think we've finally found his optimum conditions.”

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O’Brien Runners On Ascot Comeback Missions

Joseph O'Brien's Group 1-winning juveniles Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Pretty Gorgeous (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) will attempt to get back in the winner's enclosure at Royal Ascot next week.

Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's Thunder Moon stamped himself as a leader of his generation in the autumn with a victory in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and a third in the G1 Dewhurst S., but disappointed when last of 14 in the May 1 G1 2000 Guineas.

“Thunder Moon obviously disappointed at Newmarket, so we've put a line through that run,” O'Brien told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast. “We had an eye on the Irish Guineas but when the ground looked like it was going to be soft, which it was, we rerouted to go to Ascot and his preparation has gone well.”

Of the colt's Guineas performance, O'Brien added, “Nothing really came to light other than the fact he got very upset pre-race; we didn't have much of an excuse. He's been well since. Unfortunately these things happen and we've just put a line through it. There's always the possibility [that he hasn't trained on] but his work has been nice at home. He's always been a sharp worker and his work has been good in preparation for this race. You never know until they do it on the track and that is where it matters.”

Thunder Moon will have the chance to redeem himself in the G1 St James's Palace S.

“I think it's a suitable race, a relatively easy mile compared to The Curragh–it's certainly easier than that, so it looks a good race for him,” O'Brien said. “I think he goes there with an outside chance, certainly a good chance if he can get back to his best form.”

John Oxley's G1 Fillies' Mile winner and Cartier champion 2-year-old filly Pretty Gorgeous finished seventh, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in the lone start thus far of her 3-year-old campaign. She holds an entry in next week's G1 Coronation S.

“She's done really well,” O'Brien said. “It was well documented we didn't have the smoothest of runs with her but I was pleased with her at The Curragh, I was pleased with her comeback run and I'm excited to get her out again. I think her ideal ground is the easy side of good, but she's proven effective on all surfaces. I'm happy enough with the ground for her.

“I feel good with the Ascot team, we might not have any outstanding chances but we have some nice chances. I think Pretty Gorgeous might be our best chance going over there. I'd be very pleased if we can get one on the board.”

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Thunder Moon On Track For Guineas

Entries were revealed on Wednesday for the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas and G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas, with 72 colts signed on for the 2000 Guineas on May 1 and 63 fillies for the 1000 the following day.

Aidan O'Brien has saddled 10 winners of the first Classic of the season and has 12 entries for the 2000 Guineas, including 2-year-old champion St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and G2 Vintage S. scorer Battleground (War Front). O'Brien's son Joseph, likewise, has Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) signed on, and he said of the bay, a last-out third in the G1 Dewhurst S., “Thunder Moon has wintered well and we are pleased with where we are. There is plenty of water still to go under the bridge yet but it is exciting to have a live contender for the 2000 Guineas. We were very pleased with the run in the Dewhurst considering the ground on the day. He was posted on a tougher part of the track as there was bias towards the stands rails but we were pleased with him. He is obviously a pretty quick horse on what he has done so far but he shapes as though a mile will be within compass so I don't see the trip being a problem. I do feel that he will be better on quicker ground as well. It is nice to have had a run at the track previously and that experience there won't do him any harm. We have the option of running him beforehand but we will decide nearer the time and see how the horse is before making that decision.”

O'Brien added of his champion 2-year-old filly Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}), who is among the early favourites for the 1000 Guineas, “She is obviously a course and distance winner so we know she gets the trip well. I was very pleased with the performance in the Fillies' Mile. It was a brave performance as she had a bit of an interrupted preparation going into the race.

“She is an exciting filly. Her pedigree suggests she will be open to stay further than a mile as well which gives her plenty of options. Like with Thunder Moon, she has wintered well and I'm pleased with where we are. She was consistently solid last season and hopefully we can keep it that way. She was fine on both soft and good ground so she is versatile ground-wise. A decision on whether she has a prep run will depend on how she is training and how we feel closer to the time.”

Richard Hannon, meanwhile, said of the G2 Vintage S. winner Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who is engaged for the 2000 Guineas, “I'm very pleased with him and he has done very well. He did just a bit more than a canter a few days ago, him [fellow Guineas entrants] Fancy Man (Ire) and Etonian (Ire) all worked and it was a lovely start.

“Regarding his Newmarket run [ninth in the Dewhurst], the times say that the ground was heavy and it looked it. Chindit will go wherever there is decent ground. If it turns up at Newbury that is where he will go first [for the G3 Greenham S.]. He had done all his winning on flat tracks at Doncaster and Ascot before Newmarket and I'm not sure he loved the track. He has always been a neat horse with a good action. He is a good horse with a lot of speed. I think he would get the mile in a Guineas and would be suited by that trip as he is a very straightforward, simple horse.”

Trainer Andrew Balding provided an update on G1 Cheveley Park S. scorer Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), who recently returned from winter holiday.

“We are very much looking at the Guineas but that is still a long way off,” he said. “She has had a good holiday but she still looks a bit wintery in her coat so we will see what happens over the next month as we all know what fillies can do in the spring. I really was impressed in the Cheveley Park as it was only her third run and she was entitled to improve again. She has done well physically but we haven't really started serious work yet. Her pedigree offers mixed messages regarding the trip and that is about all I can go on at this stage. I'd be hopeful she would get it though as she relaxes pretty well but there is nothing we can do to find out until we try it. I think the plan if all goes well is to go to the Fred Darling first as a prep as I would like her to go over seven before going over a mile.”

Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam said 1000 Guineas contender Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who won last year's G3 Oh So Sharp S., will have a prep for the Classic.

“I'm thrilled with the way she has come back from her winter break at Ben and Lucy's Sangster's in Manton,” Chapple-Hyam said. “She has put on a nice 77 pounds and she has matured into a filly that should be competitive for the Guineas. The plan will be to start her off in the [G3] Nell Gwyn [S.] and then two weeks later head for the Guineas. It was a quick turnaround between her two runs in her maiden and the Oh So Sharp last season so we know she can do it. I think she is a serious filly that is potentially top drawer. She has wintered well and developed nicely. She has got all the right attributes. She has done it on different ground types and I think if it is real good ground you will really see her scoot along. She is not complicated as she doesn't have to lead or have cover or come with a late run. If you look at her last run she hit the rising ground going away so I don't see the mile being a problem at all.”

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