Animal Kingdom's first Australian Group 1 performer

A decade after Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler scored the fourth of his 7 Group 1 victories, his half-brother by Animal Kingdom came very close to securing his own Group 1 success at the same track for owner and breeder Katsumi Yoshida.
Peaceful State’s sustained effort at the end of Saturday’s $1 million VRC Australian Guineas 1600m G1 put him in the frame, only a half-length from the winner Grunt, and two lengths ahead of third-placed Bring Me Roses.

Watch Peaceful State run 2nd in the VRC Australian Guineas G1.
Jockey Brad Rawiller said of Peaceful State’s run, “Geez, he was good. I couldn’t have asked for a better run following the winner. We got that run but he (Grunt) was better on the day, but my bloke still isn’t fully seasoned yet. Down the track, there will be a Group I for him.”
All going well Peaceful State will get his next Group 1 opportunity within the next few weeks, and trainer Darren Weir is confident the longer distances of the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby will suit him.
It’s been a good week for Animal Kingdom, now fifth on the Second Season Sires’ table after Peaceful State’s contribution and two new winners, Table Mountain and Scarlet Image.
Peaceful State is Animal Kingdom’s second Group 1 performer after US colt & Kentucky Derby contender Untamed Domain, also a Grade 2 winner and a likely starter in next Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby G2.
Animal Kingdom’s third crop yearlings have already sold up to the $240,000 paid by Heinrich Bloodstock for the colt ex Butters at Magic Millions. Other 2018 buyers include Australian Bloodstock, Paul Perry, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott and Paul Willetts.
Animal Kingdom has a filly out of city winner Merge (by Commands) in the Bucklee Farm draft going through the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale-ring this week.
His seven lots catalogued for Inglis Easter include a half-brother to Group 2 winner Scarlet Rain in the Arrowfield draft and Tartan Fields’ colt out of Group 1 winner Plucky Belle.