State Of Rest wins the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp
State of Rest is fast stamping himself as racing’s global star and his collection of ‘majors’ across different racing regions may not be over yet.
On Sunday the Irish based star added France’s €300,000 G1 Prix Ganay to a curriculum vitae that has been bolstered in his two previous starts in 2021 with wins in the USD1,000,000 G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (USA) and the AUD5,000,000 G1 Cox Plate (Australia). Following a successful resumption to racing, trainer Joseph O’Brien is now eyeing off Ireland’s €300,000 G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and Britain’s £700,000 G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
It is an ambitious campaign but one befitting an ownership that includes a powerful collective of Australian based breeders, including China Horse Club, in who’s European colours he races. It will see State of Rest contest five races in five different countries over 313 days. A truly unique and historic performance should he continue his relentless run.
“It was a great performance, Shane [Cross] gave him a lovely ride,” said O’Brien post-race.
“The race didn’t set up perfectly for [State of Rest] and [Shane] managed it very well, I’m delighted for everyone at home. To come here at the start of the season with a win in a Group One like the Ganay is very special, I’m very proud of everyone and I hope it’s the start of a good season ahead.
“[State of Rest] has a very good constitution, it’s not every horse you could campaign the way this lad has been campaigned. I think it’s a testament to the horse’s mind, his versatility and his constitution to travel as much as he has and keep performing.”
State of Rest became China Horse Club’s 43rd G1 win internationally and its first in France since Johannes Vermeer, co-bred and co-owned by China Horse Club and Coolmore, saluted in the 2015 G1 Criterium International Stakes.
In Australia, China Horse Club also celebrated the success of the regally bred Rights of Man at the time-honoured Warrnambool Carnival. The half-brother to star sire Deep Field and G1 winner Shooting To Win, Rights of Man was bred and is raced in partnership between China Horse Club and Cressfield Stud.
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