Australia: State of Rest takes slim victory in Cox Plate

State of Rest completed a unique double of stakes wins at Saratoga Racecourse in New York and Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, with a narrow victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate in Australia.

State of Rest ($14.80 in American pools) held off a sustained threat from 2-1 Anamoe to prevail by a short head in the $3.74 million race at about 1 1/4 miles.

State of Rest won the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby at 1 3/16 miles at 21-1 on Aug. 7 in his second start of 2021.

It took nearly a half-hour to make Saturday's race official. Craig Williams, who rode Anamoe, lodged an objection against John Allen, who rode State of Rest. Williams alleged that State of Rest had bumped Anamoe. The stewards deliberated for approximately 25 minutes before rejecting the claim of foul.

State of Rest raced well off the pace in a field of eight and closed between runners in the final quarter-mile to take the lead in the stretch. Anamoe was last with a half-mile to go and closed well on the inside to just miss.

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Verry Elleegant, the reigning Horse of the Year in Australia, finished third, rallying wide to lose by a length. Verry Elleegant was also 2-1.

The Cox Plate, Australia’s leading weight-for-age race, lost its favorite early Saturday when Zaaki, a five-time stakes winner this year, was withdrawn because of an elevated temperature.

State of Rest, an Irish-bred colt by Starspangledbanner, races for Teme Valley Racing and trainer Joseph O’Brien, the son of world-famous trainer Aidan O’Brien. Joseph O’Brien has had remarkable success in shipping horses to Australia for major races, having won the Melbourne Cup in 2017 and last year.

Icebath wins Invitation

Icebath, a 5-year-old New Zealand-bred mare, rallied from last of 12 to win her first stakes in Saturday’s $1.49 million Invitation Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Icebath ($11.10) finished a little more than 1 1/4 lengths in front of 20-1 Rocha Clock. Entriviere finished fourth as the 6-5 favorite, beaten slightly more than 1 1/2 lengths.

Icebath, who is trained by Brad Widdup, has won 4 of 25 starts. The Invitation was her 17th appearance in a stakes. Last October, Icebath was second in the $5.26 million Golden Eagle Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds.

The Invitation is a newly created race run for the first time this year.