State of Excitement

We were absolutely thrilled to see the first of Sword of State's 2YO crop step out in Australia midweek and win at Listed level - what an achievement for the young stallion that we know so well.  

Sword of State was bought by David Ellis CNZM at the Magic Millions' Sale - he won the Group 1 Sistema Stakes and Group 3 Waikato Stud Slipper, and was crowned Champion 2YO.

As a 3YO he won the Group 3 Haunui Farm King's Plate and the Group 3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (defeating the subsequent all-conquering Imperatriz) - and today stands proudly at the latter at stud.

NZ Racing News reported:

In a week where Cambridge Stud’s focus is largely around Joliestar’s (Zoustar) tilt at the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m), it was their first-season sire Sword Of State who was making headlines across the Tasman on Wednesday.

A champion juvenile by Snitzel, Sword Of State retired to the Cambridge nursery after his three-year-old term and was the leading New Zealand-based first season sire at the yearling sales in 2025.

Among his progeny to go through the ring at Karaka was a filly out of the Keeper mare Ruthless Lady (NZ), bred by Go Bloodstock and purchased out of Curraghmore’s draft by Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $250,000.

10 months later, that filly, named Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State), defied odds of 15-1 to win the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes.

It was the dream result for Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, but CEO Henry Plumptre said it wasn’t as much of a surprise for them as it was for the bookmakers.

“It’s fantastic to get on the board in New Zealand, but even better to pick up a stakes race in the spring in Melbourne,” Plumptre said.

“To be honest, it’s not a huge surprise, he (Sword Of State) was a champion two-year-old by Snitzel, who has won seven premierships in Australia. To those who have followed his first crop through and particularly this filly, the only surprise was her starting price.

“The Australian betting market probably discounted Sword Of State’s ability, even though he was the third-top rated two-year-old of his year, behind the Golden Slipper winner (Stay Inside) and Magic Millions winner (Shaquero).

“It’s very exciting for us, it’s great for Gordon Cunningham continuing that roll of honour coming off Curraghmore, and the syndicate that have shares in Sword Of State.”

Sword Of State was a A$600,000 yearling purchase by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis and Cambridge Stud took a share in his colt syndicate, then furthered their investment after his outstanding Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) victory in 2021.

“We bought into the colt syndicate that he was part of, there were four colts and we had 15% of it,” Plumptre said. “After he won the Sistema, we moved to 50 percent, and then to 100 percent when we bought the syndicate out at the end of his racing career.

“He’s really going well, the first year was difficult for him because he went to stud as a three-year-old, but had a very tricky time in Queensland when we took him over for the Kingsford-Smith, he got quite sick.

“His recovery from that was quite slow, so he went straight into a breeding season and it wasn’t easy for him. Last year was much better, and he’s been fantastic this year. That Snitzel-Redoute’s Choice line have fantastic temperaments and he’s certainly got that.

“This horse is a testament to David Ellis’ skill for picking these horses, we’re very grateful to have been able to get him from Te Akau and that every year, they send us between 15-20 mares to support the stallions.

“It’s a great relationship, and for that reason as well as all others discussed, we hope he will be a big success.”