With the Newgate Farm policy of breeding their own high class broodmares to their young stallions, it’s the international Cox Plate winner State of Rest who will be succeeding.
Already rostered for State of Rest is the home-bred Deep Field mare Xilong, winner of the Euclase Stakes and Gr1 placed in the Surround Stakes, and in foal to Slipper winner Stay Inside.
Described by Newgate as ‘a very talented mare, she is considered a perfect physical mating for the stallion in being fast, square and at 15.3hh is ideally suited to State of Rest in Australia.’
‘In getting behind State od Rest with outstanding mares, he brings diversity to the roster with his globetrotting four Group 1s, in as many continents achieved around the 2000-metre trip.’
‘A lovely elegant horse by Starspangledbanner; he has scope with a beautiful action and being a Cox Plate winner he’s a classic middle-distance type and an incredible world-class performer.’
Yes, what a classic WS Cox Plate victory it was for the two 3yo’s with State of Rest, although weighed as a 4yo, getting the better of the local champ Anamoe on the line for a half-head victory.
In leading Anamoe into the straight, and a possible defeat in giving Anamoe an 7kg international advantage, it was jockey John Allen who drove State of Rest to victory in 2:06.97 for 2040m.
On this State of Rest was rated 122 on the 2022 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings ahead of all Australian’s bar Nature Strip, with Anamoe later named Champion 3YO Colt for 2021-22.
With the Cox Plate now an International Weight-for-Age Championship it was State of Rest who came off victory in the Saratoga Derby of 1m1½f for former Irish champion jockey Joseph O’Brien.
Returning to Europe and the only horse in history to win three consecutive Gr1 races in three different continents, it was next victories in the Prix Ganay of 2100m and Prince of Wales Stakes at 1¼m.
In being the only the second horse in history to win the Gr1 Cox Plate and Gr1 Prince of Wales’s stakes double – the first was So You Think, being ridden to victory in the latter by Joseph O’Brien.
Now the best of Australia’s versatile international sire Starspangledbanner, he’s half-brother to Group winner Tranquil Star, the family of It’s In The Air, through his Quiet American dam Repose.
“Without question a remarkably talented, durable and consistent performer, and as we asked a huge amount of him throughout his career and he delivered every time,” said Joseph O’Brien.
Also new to Newgate is Golden Rose winner In The Congo who co-trainer Gai Waterhouse says “he’s exactly what Australian racing is all about: a fast, tough colt that will make a great stallion.”
In being the highest Timeform rated 3YO by champion Snitzel in the last five years, In The Congo was rated even higher at three than Snitzel’s Champion First Season Sire son Russian Revolution.
A sire son of the fastest winner of the Golden Rose in history in defeating Anamoe and Artorius, “In The Congo is the best 3yo sprinter I’ve ever trained,” said co-trainer Adrian Bott.
“Consistently displaying A grade Gr1 form and incredibly raw speed for his entire 3yo season, it’s fair to say his profile of a stallion will be supporting in the yearling market in the years to come.”
A $350,000 buy from Newhaven Park for Chaina Horse Club-Newgate B’stock at the 2002 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, In the Congo is the best of South African Champion Sprinter Via Africa.
Dominant Blue Diamond and Canterbury Stakes winner Artorius also debuts at Newgate, in being a world-class sprinter with six Group 1 placing including the Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot.
“He possesses that elite sustained speed that good stallions have, and he’s an incredible type physically and I know he’ll pass on all of these onto his progeny,” said Anthony Freedman.
“Artorius has been a high-class racehorse his whole career from his first preparation at two he stamped himself as elite, and has shown incredible consistency and elite Group 1 form.”
Sired by the WTR Champion 3YO Male Sprinter and Champion 3YO Colt in Flying Artie, Artorius was a $120,000 MM Gold Coast Yearling buy, being the family of Darley Classic winner Delectation.
