Ormsby hoping Slipper fits Sword Of State gelding

Group 1 assignments are looming for the country’s leading juveniles and Chad Ormsby is hoping State Of Valour can be among that contingent.

The Cambridge Stud-bred and raced gelding has shown the Cambridge horseman plenty of promise and he will get his chance to put his hand up for higher honours in the Eagle Charters 1100 at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The son of Sword Of State was set to line-up in last Saturday’s Group 3 Matamata Slipper, but the wet conditions forced his withdrawal, with Ormsby opting to send him north to Ellerslie a week later.

While the Matamata Slipper was only contested by four runners, Ormsby was buoyed by the result, with State Of Valour having finished runner-up to victor Justin Case in his prior start.

“We were really excited about the Slipper at Matamata but track conditions didn’t suit and we could wait a week and head to Ellerslie where you are a good chance of getting a really good track,” Ormsby said.

“He has good form, running second to the horse that went on to win that race (Matamata Slipper), which gives us a bit of confidence for Saturday.”

State Of Valour has just had the two runs to date, and Ormsby is hoping he can take that next step up to warrant tilts at the Group 1 Sistema Stakes and Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes next month.

“He is a natural two-year-old and he has come on nicely since his last run,” Ormsby said. “He has got to raise the bar quite a bit first but they (Sistema and Sires’ Produce) are definitely an option.”