Four time Group I winner and a Cox Plate hero, State of Rest (IRE) will have his first Australian runners this season and the champion son of Starspanglednbanner has been ticking along in Europe and posted his fifth winner in Ireland overnight.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien, who also prepared his sire, two year-old colt Eighteenth Smiles stepped up to 1m for the first time at Cork and it proved a winning move coming off two third placings at his two previous runs.
He knuckled down to the task to score a head win in a thrilling finish.
“He stays well and handles the ground well. It's great to get him off the mark for the Annus Mirabilis guys (owners), and it's nice for the stallion. He just put himself on the back foot, and he did the same thing in Roscommon. He had a lot of running to do turning in but in fairness to him he put his head down and tried all the way to the line,” said Kevin Blake, representing trainer Joseph O'Brien.
“Hopefully he can go on now and win another one.”
Eighteenth Smiles is the first winner for Banned, a winning half-sister by Galileo stallion Ulysses to stakes-winners Law Power and Perfect Clarity.
State of Rest had yearlings sell in Australia this year for up to $425,000 and will have his first runners here this season.
The only son of Starspangledbanner at stud in Australia he stands at a fee of $22,000.
