Sword Of State (Snitzel) will add further Group One quality to the Cambridge Stud roster this coming breeding season where he will stand for an introductory fee of $15,000 + GST.
The son of Snitzel triumphed in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) to earn Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old honours and trained on to add the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) and Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m) against the older horses as a three-year-old to his impressive resume.
Sword Of State was trained by Te Akau’s Jamie Richards before his departure to Hong Kong and finished a close second in the Gr.3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on an unsuitably wet track in his first appearance for Mark Walker, in what was to be his final outing.
The colt had been set for a crack at the Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m), but an elevated temperature that required rigorous antibiotic treatment derailed plans and time was called on his career.
“Sword of State was clearly in great form in the autumn, underlined by his two stakes wins at Ellerslie, and it was very frustrating that he did not get to run at Group One level in Brisbane,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre said.
“Once again, Snitzel has demonstrated what a force he is within the Australian market, not only through his own achievements but also those of his sons Shamus Award and Russian Revolution.
“To have a dominant Group One-winning two-year-old by Snitzel retiring to Cambridge is an enviable position to be in and we are very excited about what the future holds for him.”
Out of the Group Two-placed Encosta De Lago mare In The Vanguard, Sword Of State was a A$600,000 yearling sale purchase by Te Akau chief David Ellis and retires as the winner of six of his 11 starts.
Limited shares are available in Sword Of State, who will stand alongside fellow Group One winners Almanzor, Hello Youmzain and Embellish at Cambridge Stud.
