An Outstanding Colt by Sword of State
A rare opportunity to own a high-upside colt by one of Australasia’s most exciting young sires
We’re delighted to have secured this Sword of State colt, a horse we rated extremely highly throughout the sales process and one we believe represents outstanding value.
Sword of State has made an exceptional start at stud, with his progeny already performing at a high level on both sides of the Tasman and attracting serious attention in the sales ring.
For us, this colt brings together everything we look for at the yearling sales: a quality physical, an excellent New Zealand female family, a rapidly emerging young sire and a purchase price that gives owners genuine value.
Most importantly, we bought him because we believe he has the attributes to make a very good racehorse. He has continued to strengthen and develop since the sales, and we’re extremely excited to see what he can do once he begins his first preparation with Allan Sharrock.
The Sire: Sword of State
The Sire: Sword of State
Sword of State has wasted no time making his presence felt at stud.
In Australia, he is already represented by Warwoven, one of the leading two-year-olds of the season and a genuine Golden Slipper contender, along with Torture, a Melbourne stakes winner who was an unlucky third in the Karaka Millions after losing a winker during the race.
Commercially, the market has taken notice. A Sword of State colt out of La Brisas sold for $1.1 million, an exceptional result for a stallion who commenced his career at a service fee of just $15,000. It is a significant vote of confidence in what Sword of State is producing and, if his progeny continue performing at this level, his value as a stallion should continue to rise considerably.
Sword of State was himself an elite juvenile and high-class three-year-old. His performances included defeating Imperatriz and Babylon Berlin, carrying 60.5kg when beating Imperatriz as a three-year-old.
Importantly, we don't believe his progeny will be limited to precocious two-year-olds. There is every reason to expect many of them to strengthen and improve further as three-year-olds, which is particularly exciting with this colt.
The Colt: Type, Pedigree & Presence
This colt is an exceptional physical and was one of the horses that immediately stood out to us at the sales.
He is strong, correct and a very good mover, with genuine presence and balance. He also has a deep New Zealand female family behind him, being out of an O'Reilly mare, with Zabeel as the sire of his second dam.
It's a pedigree packed with some of the most influential bloodlines in New Zealand racing and gives him an excellent blend of speed, strength and depth.
Physically, he has continued to develop extremely well since we first inspected him in early January. He has already strengthened considerably and still has plenty of improvement to come as he grows into his frame over the next six months.
From a racing perspective, we see him developing into a genuine 1200m–1600m horse, while still possessing the natural speed and athleticism to race as a two-year-old.
One of the things we particularly like is how strongly the O'Reilly influence comes through physically. It is a female line renowned for producing tough, sound and competitive racehorses, and there is plenty about this colt that suggests he has inherited those qualities.
The Trainer: Allan Sharrock
This is personally one of the most exciting colts we have sent to Allan Sharrock.
He was our standout colt from Book Two and one we were determined to buy. We had strong competition in the ring and had to stretch further than initially planned to secure him.
What has been particularly encouraging is his development since then. We first inspected him on the yearling tour in early January, and the amount he has strengthened in a relatively short period has only added to our opinion of him.
He will now head to Allan to begin his first proper preparation. That will give us our first real indication of how forward he is as a two-year-old, particularly once he progresses through to his first jumpout.
Allan's record of developing talented horses while placing them patiently and to their advantage makes him an ideal trainer for this colt.
We bought him because we believed he was one of the best physicals in Book Two, and everything we have seen from him since has reinforced that view.
THE FUN SIDE - BECOME AN OWNER
Let’s be honest! It’s not just about pedigrees, conformation, and race targets. The single most important part of ownership is the experience!
As an owner, you'll receive regular updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes access as your horse progresses through their career. We keep things fun and exciting every step of the way from the race day build-up to celebrating those unforgettable victories.
At Inspire Racing, we create a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere where owners can fully experience the thrill of racing, whether you're new to the sport or a seasoned participant.
The monthly contribution for a 2.5% share is approx on average $97 per month and we cater to any share size above 1%.
With the growing prize pools in New Zealand racing, this is an exciting time to be involved.
He has passed all veterinary protocols and comes fully insured, ensuring your investment is protected.
