Newgate Farm’s Cox Plate winner State of Rest (IRE) has his first 2YO’s running in Europe this year and among his four winners so far is exciting filly Star of State, who stepped up sharply in class overnight to run a fine second in the Group II Lowther Stakes (6f) at York.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, as was her sire, Star of State was sent off favourite after her nine length maiden win at Leopardstown last month at her second race start.
She looked set for victory, but just lacked the seasoning of the winner Libertango with the George Boughey trained No Nay Never filly edging clear to win by half a length.
It was the second stakes win for Libertango, who won the Group III Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and was second most recently in the Group II Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.
Both Libertango and Star of State hold entries for upcoming Group I races so this won’t be the last time they clash.
A four time Group I winner and the best son of Starspangledbanner, State of Rest will have his first Australian runners this season and is back in the Hunter Valley this spring at a fee of $22,000.
