International Horse Profile: State of Rest
Winner of the Saratoga Derby Invitation Stakes last month, 3YO State of Rest is an interesting international runner in the Cox Plate this year.
Coming to Australia with a Timeform Rating of just 116, he is certainly ratings wise below where you would want him to be to get a win in this years Cox Plate. But ladies and gentlemen, if he continues to improve onwards this prep as he has between runs, he may just take the very next step to be competitive.
What’s important about his racing style is he travels VERY well inside of runners and on the rails. He reminds me a little of a Pinker Pinker type run, just saving all the ground and letting loose the final 200-300m which he showed in his last start G1 win, he has a turn of foot over the distance.
Why exactly does State of Rest measure up?
The last time a 3YO trained by an O’Brien came out to Australia, it had a 116 Timeform Rating and the name of the horse was Adelaide. It ran 124+ Timeform rating and won the Cox Plate. I’m not entirely convinced State of Rest has the ability to bounce up in the ratings so significantly again to measure up here, but they don’t fly out here to fuck spiders!
What it takes to win or place in the Cox Plate the past three years?
2020 Cox Plate – (123 Timeform Rating won the race – 122 prior to race for the horse)
1st – Sir Dragonet – Got a genuine tempo and soft track – previous best 122+ timeform on soft. All perfect conditions on day. Ran 123 to win.
2nd – Armory – Ran 122+ Timeform rating in previous G1 run and repeated that figure with 122 for second.
3rd – Russian Camelot – Best in past seen over slightly shorter distances. Ran to 121 Timeform Rating on the day. Had previously ran 124 in the Underwood on a soft track.
2019 Cox Plate – (124 Timeform Rating won the race – 125+ prior to race for the horse)
1st – Lys Gracieux – Won like a good thing going away from them. Tempo was solid. Run prior was 124 Timeform Rating. Ran 125+ on the day. Next start in Japan ran 128! Class horse.
2nd – Castelvecchio – Ran a clear career peak here of 124 Timeform rating. Won a G1 since running 120.
3rd – Te Akau Shark – Disappointed on the day – 2000m too far for horses best. Ran 119 on the day coming off a 126 Timeform rating prior and 126+ next start after that both those over 1600m.
2018 Cox Plate – (129+ Timeform Rating won the race – 134 prior to race for the horse)
1st – Winx – Didn’t need to run up to her best to win but had to improve on last start win. Did so impressively going up to 129+ Timeform Rating on the day from 123+ run prior. Just had to run to best to win.
2nd – Benbatl – Would have won any other year without Winx in the race. Came in with 129 Timeform rating and ran to 129! Ran 124 since. Was a career peak along with Dubai Turf win over 3l+ back in March of 2018.
3rd – Humidor – Beaten 4.75L into 3rd – you take that as an owner. Ran 122 Timeform on the day. Previous best 129 previous year behind Winx. Best since that 129 was this 123 and never improved. Previous best behind that was 125+. Peaked in 2017.
Author: Drew Patchell
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