Sword Of State put in a pleasing final hit-out at Pukekohe on Wednesday ahead of his next assignment, the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday-week.
The Group One-winning son of Snitzel led home a field of Te Akau runners in the 1000m trial, beating I Wish I Win by a half head, with a further long neck back to Prise De Fer in third, with On The Bubbles in fourth.
“Sword of State relaxed nicely back in the field and finished off well, as did I Wish I Win,” trainer Jamie Richards said.
“Prise De Fer is going to the Open 1500 metres at Ellerslie, a race he won last year. It was a tune up trial for that and we went forward on him, something different, to get his mind on the job.
“It was the usual sort of quiet outing from On the Bubbles, who doesn’t over exert himself at the trials and saves his best for race day.”
Sword Of State, last season’s Champion Two-Year-Old, commenced his three-year-old term with victory in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie last month, and trainer Jamie Richards is looking forward to returning to the Auckland venue next week.
All three of his stablemates will also be heading to Ellerslie on Derby Day, with Prise De Fer set to contest a 1500m open handicap, while I Wish I Win and On The Bubbles will line-up in the Listed Mufhasa Fasttrack Stakes (1400m) ahead of the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on March 19.
