State Of Rest downs Bay Bridge under brilliant Shane Crosse ride

State Of Rest (left) gets the better of Bay Bridge for a delighted Shane Crosse

Alan Crowhurst

Wednesday: Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Royal Ascot

Shane Crosse delivered a sublime ride on State Of Rest to stun odds-on favourite Bay Bridge in an enthralling Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

A first-class colt in his own right, State Of Rest was a Grade 1 winner in the States last year and also bagged the Cox Plate in Australia before returning this term with another top-flight success in the Prix Ganay.

However, he went off a 5-1 chance as the market favoured 10-11 chance Bay Bridge, who finished a length adrift of the winner.

Grand Glory was third, while Japanese superstar Shahryar was a one-paced fourth.

The 2020 winner Lord North finished last of the five runners, losing all chance when Frankie Dettori was late to remove his blindfold as he left the stalls.

Racing in the distinct red and yellow silks of the State Of Rest Partnership, the four-year-old is trained by Joseph O’Brien, whose yard Crosse is a major part of.

State Of Rest: globetrotting star gave trainer Joseph O’Brien a first Royal Ascot winner

Edward Whitaker

The rider missed a Classic winner for the stable after testing positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the 2020 St Leger, resulting in him being replaced by Tom Marquand on subsequent winner Galileo Chrome.

However, he was able to enjoy his biggest victory here – and a first at Royal Ascot.

After making all on State Of Rest, he said: “The plan, speaking to Joseph this morning and it being a small field, was not to complicate it. From our draw [in stall one] we thought it was the best way of winning. Fair play to the horse – he showed what he’s all about today.

“In the space of the last 12 months he’s done a lot and that’s credit to the team who look after him. I’m over the moon. This is an absolute dream – there’s no other way to describe it.”

O’Brien won the Prince of Wales’s on So You Think for his father Aidan ten years ago, but had not struck at the royal meeting as a trainer.

“It was a brilliant ride and he’s a very tough horse,” said O’Brien.

“We had a good chat with Shane and decided we’d try to make the running and it couldn’t have worked out better. Shane gave him a marvellous ride and got the fractions perfect – he’s only had a handful of rides here and he grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck.

“It’s very special to win a race here as a trainer. It’s been a long time coming and it’s hugely special to win a race like the Prince of Wales’s.”

State Of Rest, who is entered in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown next month, is 14-1 (from 33) with Betfair and Paddy Power for October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“The horse has a great team of owners and he’s proved himself a high-class versatile horse,” O’Brien added. “I take the blame myself for the last time when we didn’t make enough use of him in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. We knew today we had a live chance. I’m delighted he proved himself.”

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FIRST PUBLISHED 3:51PM, JUN 15 2022