First Australian stakeswinner for Animal Kingdom
Katsumi Yoshida’s Animal Kingdom colt Peaceful State has looked capable of big things since his close second to Villermont in last November’s Sandown Guineas G2.
He pressed his case with a runner-up finish in Grunt’s Australian Guineas G1 on 3 March and has now earned stakes-winning status with a storming victory in Saturday’s $100,000 SAJC HC Nitschke S. 1400m LR.
Drawn 11, Peaceful State eased bask towards the rear of the field where he settled comfortably for jockey John Allen while Time Awaits shot to the lead. The colt had all his rivals in front of him as they rounded the home turn but launched a powerful run through the field to sweep past Snitzel’s daughters Platinum Angel and Smooth Landing and score by a length.
Watch Peaceful State win the SAJC HC Nitschke S. LR.
Bred by Northern Farm’s partnership with Arrowfield, and trained by Darren Weir, Peaceful State is the last foal of Weekend Beauty (by Helissio), already famous as the dam of 2008 Australian Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler.
Peaceful State’s next target is the Adelaide Guineas LR on 12 May, with a trip booked after that for Brisbane where he is nominated for both the Stradbroke Handicap and the Queensland Derby.
Animal Kingdom now has four stakeswinners on his dual-hemisphere record and is currently serving his fifth US book of mares at Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Kentucky.
His four other stakes performers include 2YO Wild Planet (ex Salutations by Redoute’s Choice), second in last Wednesday’s VRC Anzac Day S. LR, and Earth Angel (ex Miss Finland by Redoute’s Choice), who will start in next Saturday’s $500,000 SAJC Australasian Oaks G1.
