Written by Jackson Frantz
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Cambridge Stud have announced that Sword Of State will stand for NZ$15,000 plus GST this upcoming breeding season.
The G1 Sistema S.-winning son of Snitzel, who was retired following his narrow second placing in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas, presents as great value, according to Cambridge Stud’s CEO Henry Plumptre.
“We are excited by what the future holds for Sword Of State,” Plumptre told TDN AusNZ.
“He’s a son of Snitzel out of an Encosta De Lago mare which is a classic cross in Australia and at his peak he rated extremely well on the Australasian radar.”
Sword Of State will for NZ$15,000 plus GST at Cambridge Stud
Plumptre said the decision to retire Sword Of State due to a spiked temperature was hard to swallow, saying that the horse would’ve proved ultra competitive and showcased his top-tier credentials in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup.
He referenced the colt's narrow defeat to Prince Of Boom (Spirit Of Boom) in the Gold Coast Guineas and his victory over subsequent Group 1 heroine Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in January’s G3 Almanzor S. as proof that he hadn’t reached the peak of his powers.
“He’s (Sword Of State) a son of Snitzel out of an Encosta De Lago mare which is a classic cross in Australia...” - Henry Plumptre
“Having to retire him was the most frustrating thing as Jamie (Richards) and then Mark (Walker) finally got him right,” Plumptre said.
“We really had our tails up after the Gold Coast Guineas because it was on ground that he wouldn’t have liked and he showcased that tenacity.”
Every chance assured for his nascent stud career
Plumptre expects Sword Of State to cover a quality book of mares this upcoming season, saying that his precocity, good looks and proven bloodlines are extremely desirable.
He confirmed that Cambridge will ensure the Champion New Zealand 2-Year-Old is afforded the best possible chance at stud, saying they will send 25 of their own mares to him.
Sword Of State made $600,000 as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He’s not very big, but he’s long and beautifully put together,” Plumptre said. “He’s got a great shoulder, hip, back end and is a very athletic-walking horse.
“He will cover a decent book of mares of which 25 will be Cambridge mares and we’re going to send him a variety of types and pedigrees and see how he goes with them but I think he will throw pretty good types that will be very commercial."
A $600,000 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by David Ellis, Sword Of State is the first foal out of the G2 Sweet Embrace S.-placed In The Vanguard (Encosta De Lago), who is out of the G2 Light Fingers S.-winning Sharp (Danzero).
