Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
State can be better than Rest
JOSEPH O’BRIEN’S globetrotting stable star State Of Rest might prove best in a fascinating renewal of the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh tomorrow.
Successful only once in Ireland, on his debut at Fairyhouse in June 2020, State Of Rest has been plying his trade around the world and has the distinction of winning
Group 1 pots on three different continents.
He made his breakthrough in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby in August of last year before heading Down Under where he bagged the hugely prestigious Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October.
And, on his seasonal debut three weeks ago, State Of Rest landed the Prix Ganay in Longchamp, beating Pretty Tiger by three-quarters of a length.
The Starspanglebanner colt will face a stern test tomorrow against John Gosden’s dual Dubai Turf winner Lord North – who boasts an identical rating to the selection of 120 – the William Haggas-trained Alenquer, who beat Lord North at Lingfield in February, 2021; Irish 2,000 Guineas victor Mac Swiney; last year’s winner of this event Helvic Dream and the Balydoyle pair of High Definition and Broome.
Paddy Twomey’s Pearls Galore is expected to land the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at the expense of similarly-rated Twilight Spinner, winner of the recent Athasi (Group 3) on this track.
Runner-up to Space
Blues in the Foret last year and sixth to the same horse in the Breeders Cup Mile in del Mar, Pearls Galore impressed when beating subsequent Group 3 winner Pretreville in the Amethyst at Leopardstown on her seasonal debut and should follow-up here.
And highly-rated Ballydoyle filly Never Ending Story (by Dubawi) might have the edge over well-touted Olivia Maralda (partly owned by soccer player Philippe Coutinho) in the opening two-year-old fillies maiden.