'It wasn't him on the day' - State Of Rest camp plot next step after French flop

Joseph O'Brien believes international heavyweight State Of Rest simply did not fire when disappointing in last weekend's Prix Jacques le Marois, but says his stable star appears none the worse for the Group 1 flop.

Consistency had been the globetrotting performer's strong suit before beating just one rival home in the Deauville feature on Sunday, finishing nine and a half lengths behind the brilliant Inspiral.

In his previous five races, State Of Rest had won four top-level prizes when over 1m1½f to 1m2½f, with the Prix Jacques le Marois representing a notable drop in trip to a mile.

O'Brien did not point to the shorter distance as an excuse for the French disappointment, however, and connections are now planning the next step on the Starspangledbanner colt's international campaign.

He has entries in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Qipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Qipco Champion Stakes, while a defence of his Ladbrokes Cox Plate crown at Moonee Valley also appears high on the agenda.

State Of Rest: could return to Australia in October to defend Ladbrokes Cox Plate crownCredit: Alex Livesey (Getty Images)

O'Brien said: "He seems to be fine since the weekend. I think it obviously just wasn't him on the day. We were disappointed with the run but we'll regroup and make a plan.

"He has plenty of options in Europe and Australia from here on, so we'll have a chat with the owners and plans will be decided over the next week or ten days. There's no one target more likely than the others until we liaise with the owners."

A Longines Irish Champions Weekend return could be on the cards for O'Brien's impressive Prix Saint-Alary winner Above The Curve, who hasn't been seen since that Group 1 breakthrough at Longchamp in May.

She has an entry in the Irish Champion Stakes and Coolmore Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, as well as the Moyglare Blandford Stakes at the Curragh.

O'Brien said: "She's doing fine. She's got entries for Irish Champions Weekend, but no one race is a more likely target for her than another at this stage."

Ladbrokes Cox Plate (October 22)

Ladbrokes: 4 State Of Rest, 5 Zaaki, 8 Real World, 10 Anamoe, 14 Nations Pride, 16 Duais, 20 Stone Age, Gold Trip, I'm Thunderstruck, 25 bar

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