Sussex Stakes is "definite possibility" for State Of Rest

Joseph O’Brien has raised the tantalising possibility of State Of Rest taking on fellow Royal Ascot winners Baaeed and Coroebus in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood next month.

O’Brien told Racing TV viewers on Wednesday that he is keen to drop the Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner back to a mile with the Qatar Sussex Stakes and Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville under consideration.

O’Brien told Gary O’Brien at Naas: “There isn’t a set in stone target for his next target but I would say that there's a fair chance he might come back to a mile for something like the Sussex or the Jacques le Marois. He also has the Juddmonte International [as a possibility] but the Coral-Eclipse is likely to be sooner than ideal. I’d say it will be one or two of those races mentioned.

“The Sussex is a definite possibility. We will see how he trains between now and then. Stupidly, I didnt enter him and so we will have to supplement him. He’s been showing a lot of pace recently, particularly the last day at Ascot where he quickened up very well.”

He added: “He’s come out of the race [Royal Ascot] very well. It was great for everyone in the yard and he's an exciting horse going forward.”

Baaeed is a best-priced 4-7 to preserve his unbeaten record in the Sussex after making it seven wins from as many starts in the Queen Anne Stakes, with Coroebus a general 5-2 after his wins in the 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes. But the market would undoubtedly be shaken up if State Of Rest gets a late ticket to the party.

William Haggas has confirmed that Baaeed will head for the Sussex and then be stepped up in trip for the Juddmonte International at York.

The colt cemented his position as the best horse in Europe when winning at Ascot last week. His official rating has risen to 128.

“I think that is the obvious route. We haven’t discussed it fully but it seems the obvious thing because he’s got to race, he’s four-year-old and he’s got to get on with it,” Haggas said.

“He won well, as he was entitled to do. I was not overwhelmed by his performance – although he never came off the bridle really – but the handicapper has put him up 3lb so he must have seen something so it was good.

“I think there’s possibly something in that he only does what he needs to do, like his father (Sea The Stars), who was never flash but he kept winning over every distance. This horse is doing what he has to do and that is why going up in trip will be so interesting.”

Maljoom has been handed the Prix Jacques le Marois as his next likely destination following his luckless run behind Coroebus at Royal Ascot.

Cieren Fallon had nowhere to go for much of the Ascot straight in the St James’s Palace Stakes, but when he did have daylight the German Guineas winner flew home and just ran out of time to catch Coroebus, having to settle for what looked a desperately unlucky fourth.

Haggas has dismissed the notion of supplementing him for the Sussex Stakes to take on Baaeed and will instead send him to France in search of a first Group One.

“Sheikha Hissa’s (Baaeed’s owner) uncle is Sheikh Ahmed (Maljoom’s owner) so I don’t think there’s any desire to send Maljoom for the Sussex and he’s not in it for a start off. I think he’s going to go for the Jacques le Marois,” Haggas told Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast.

“I’m pretty sure he’d have won with a clear run, they went no gallop in that race and it was really messy. Ryan’s (Moore, Aikhal) horse fell back at the wrong time and it was one of those things that can happen.

“The horse made rapid gains in the last furlong and many observers thought he’d have won and I agree, I think he would have done.”

Another stablemate, My Prospero, actually finished one place in front of Maljoom in third but will now be stepped up in trip.

Haggas said: “I think My Prospero is a good horse, but he just needs further. It was a risk running him as we know that, but it was the last Group One for three-year-olds.

“He won’t run at a mile again, he has the option of the Sky Bet Stakes at York or the Prix Eugene Adam, but I need to think about it. He’s a great big horse who will be better next year.”