Review: Gr.1 Prince of Wales Stakes

A Group One winner in America, Australia, and France, the Starspangledbanner colt led from pillar to post in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. The State Of Rest was last seen finishing a close-up third when bidding to bag a first top-level prize on European soil in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

With the fast-improving Bay Bridge, Dubai Sheema Classic winnerShahryar, and a previous winner of the race in Lord North in opposition, State Of Rest proved his class under Shane Crosse.

Sent straight to the lead, the 4YO steadily raised the tempo. Ryan Moore delivered Bay Bridge with what looked like a well-timed run, but try as he might, he could never quite get on terms with State Of Rest who found plenty in front to prevail by a length.

He said: “Shane gave him a marvellous ride, he has only ridden a handful of races here. He grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck.

“It is a huge day, I’m very proud of everyone. We have a huge team at home and I’m so proud of them.

Sir Michael Stoute said of Bay Bridge: “The race didn’t pan out brilliantly for him, but he ran a very big race. We are absolutely delighted. He’s run a big race. We didn’t know about the ground because we had not run him on that ground before, but that didn’t inconvenience him. No problem there.

“We will have a think. We can stick at 10 (furlongs) or go 12. No decision for a little while. We are not going to decide now. He is in all the big races.”