World Traveler State Of Rest Takes Prince of Wales's

Shane Crosse delivered a sublime ride on State Of Rest  to stun odds-on favorite Bay Bridge  in an enthralling Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) June 15 at Royal Ascot.

A first-class colt in his own right, State Of Rest took the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) in the U.S. last year and also bagged the Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) in Australia before returning this term with another top-flight success in the Prix Ganay (G1).

However, he went off a 5-1 chance as the market favored 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.

The rider missed a Classic winner for the stable after testing positive for COVID-19 on the eve of the 2020 Pertems St Leger Stakes (G1), 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 marvelous 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 Sandown Coral-Eclipse (G1) next month, is 14-1 odds (from 33) with Betfair and Paddy Power for October's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

"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."