Sword Of State boosts festive spirits

[Wandering Eyes]

Young Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State has landed another timely winning blow across the Tasman.

The son of Snitzel is two for two in Australia, with his first representative Torture claiming the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) for Lindsay Park and at Randwick on Saturday his second runner Warwoven scored on debut.

Not to be outdone, associate sire Almanzor is also on a hot run, with Argo and Rambling On combining for a Te Rapa double, Touchdown and Roadcone scored at Caulfield and Lux Libertas was an impressive winner at Trentham.

She was triumphant in the Listed Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham to add to Almanzor’s recent black type victories courtesy of Qali Al Farrasha (Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, 1400m), Mary Shan (Gr.3 Great Northern Challenge Stakes, 1600m) and First Five (Gr.3, J Swap Sprint, 1400m).

Sword Of State’s son Warwoven is prepared at Warwick Farm by Bjorn Baker and is now headed toward the A$3 million Magic Millions (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 17.

“We don’t want to get too carried away, but when you look at how many eyes are on those races it was an awesome result,” Cambridge Stud’s Sales and Nominations Manager Scott Calder said.

“The manner in which the horse won, and the significance of this time of the year as a pre-Christmas two-year-old leading into the Magic Millions, was terrific.

“With all the expectation on the stallion with the way they have sold (up to $540,000) and having already had a stakes winner with his other runner in Australia, it’s very exciting.”

Warwoven was bred by Kia Ora Stud and sold out of their draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $380,000 to Ridgmont, Bjorn Baker Racing, S & J Gosling and Clarke Bloodstock.

He is the first foal of the Makfi mare Needle And Thread, winner of the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m).

“Kia Ora came in as a shareholder in Sword Of State and they purchased Needle And Thread through the Valachi dispersal,” Calder said.

Sword Of State will be well-represented in Cambridge Stud’s draft to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, including a half-brother (Lot 513) to the farm’s multiple Group One-winning graduate Ceolwulf.

“The favourite for many reasons is the colt out of Las Brisas, he’s the one the Guerin Report has been following,” Calder said.

“When he was born, Ceolwulf wasn’t a stakes winner and he’s now won four Group Ones and Sword Of State is on everyone’s radar.

“He has the pedigree and is a really nice colt, we think he’s one who will really stand out.

“Ceolwulf was a really nice athletic horse and a Tavistock that looked like he would be a staying three-year-old, whereas this colt has a more precocious look and an early maturing, faster type.”

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