Shuttling back to Newgate this spring, Starspangledbanner’s Cox Plate winning son State of Rest (IRE) posted his third winner in Ireland overnight at Gowran Park with a bold front running victory for Sword of State.
Trained by Brendan Duke, Sword of State was backing up a week later after making her debut at The Curragh and obviously took benefit from the experience.
Another winner for freshman sire State of Rest as SWORD OF STATE gets off the mark at @GowranPark1🥇
After a promising debut at the Curragh just six days ago, she took a nice step forward to score for Brendan Duke & owners Martin Hayes & Peter Slezak.
pic.twitter.com/rOmwWrWnmA— Rathbarry & Glenview (@RathbarryStud) July 25, 2026
She led all the way to win the 7f maiden by a length and a quarter confirming the high regard in which she is held by her trainer.
🗣️ "We've been waiting nine years for a two-year-old like this."
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Brendan Duke was in good form with @irishkor when discussing Sword Of State's win @GowranPark1 pic.twitter.com/eZgtjhCXOE
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 25, 2026
Sword of State is a half-sister to stakes-winner Smuggler’s Moon and is the seventh winner from 10 foals to race from Alchemilla, an unraced half-sister to Group II winner Strategic Prince and stakes-winner Yorkshire with this family well known in Australia for producing four time Group I winner Montefilia.
Sword of State’s grand-dam is stakes-winning Diesis mare Ausherra, who is also the third dam of Montefilia, who was bought by Yulong for $3.4million at the 2023 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
State of Rest will have his first Australian bred runners next season and is priced this spring at $22,000.
