Sword Of Stars (NZ) Strikes in War Decree

Exciting filly Sword Of Stars (NZ) (Sword Of State) stamped herself as a leading contender for Group One spoils at Riccarton next month with a sparkling performance in Saturday’s $100,000 Group Three War Decree Stakes (1400m) at the same venue.

Sword Of Stars was offered by breeders Windsor Park Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2025, where Te Akau Racing principal Sir David Ellis bought her for $350,000. She has now had six starts for two wins, three placings and $102,800 in prize-money.

A placegetter in two of her three starts as a two-year-old last season, Sword Of Stars resumed with an eye-catching third in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on September 12. She then scored a comfortable maiden victory at Timaru on October 4 to set herself up for a return to the black-type stage on Saturday.

Ridden by Wiremu Pinn in the War Decree, Sword Of Stars was among the slowest to leave the starting gates but recovered to settle in fifth along the rail.

There were some nervous moments early in the home straight as Sword Of State was briefly boxed in down on the inside and had nowhere to go despite appearing to be travelling well.

But Pinn was able to switch across heels at around the 200-metre mark and hook to the outside of So Fear (NZ) (Ardrossan) and Platinum La Danse (NZ) (Noverre). Then Sword Of Stars changed legs and produced a smart turn of foot, outsprinting those two rivals and going on to win by a length.

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will now point Sword Of Stars towards either the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) on November 7 or the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) a week later. The Te Akau stable already has leading chances in each of those races with Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor) in the 1000 Guineas and System Of Play (Ole Kirk) in the 2000 Guineas.

“Sword Of Stars has set herself up nicely for one of those races, and having to decide which one is a good problem to have,” Bergerson said.

“The query today was going to 1400 metres and whether she would settle better. We took the side winkers off, and I loved the way she relaxed and got into a nice rhythm.

“She didn’t jump away as flash as we would have liked, but he (Pinn) was able to recover from the good gate. It was a really good, patient ride.

“It was great to see her attack the line like that, and we’re really looking forward to getting to the mile now.

“She’s a lovely filly. I can’t thank the team down here enough for all the work that’s gone into her. We tried to push her as a two-year-old, and it just didn’t work out. It’s great to see her back at her best today.

“We’ve always really liked her. We bought her off a fantastic farm in Windsor Park, and she comes from a really good Windsor Park family. It’s exciting for the sire Sword Of State as well, so it’s a really cool win for the team and really exciting.”

The War Decree Stakes produced a Karaka 2025 quinella, with runner-up Platinum La Danse purchased by Kevin Dixon for $45,000 from Book 2. The Lisa Latta-trained filly has recorded a win and three placings from a seven-start career, earning $57,240.

The impressive win by Sword Of Stars in Saturday’s War Decree Stakes added to an outstanding spring for her exciting young sire Sword Of State – himself a former Group One winner for the Te Akau stable. The Cambridge Stud stallion’s headline act, valuable colt Warwoven, won the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) and Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

Sword Of State has 12 progeny catalogued for the NZB Ready to Run Sale, which will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on 18 & 19 November.

Vendor	Windsor Park Stud
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) (Te Akau)
Breeding	Sword Of State – Angelica Hall
Sale	Lot 446, Karaka 2025 Book 1, $350,000
Breeder	Windsor Park Stud Ltd
Owner	Te Akau Stately Hall Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM)