O'Brien salutes State Of Rest after scan forces retirement of globetrotting star

State Of Rest will not travel to Australia to bid for a repeat victory in the Cox Plate and has been retired immediately, it was announced on Tuesday.

The four-year-old globetrotter, who also won the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot this summer, was being aimed at the Moonee Valley showpiece in October, but an MRI scan conducted by Racing Victoria found an issue, meaning he will not pass the necessary protocols to travel to Melbourne.

Trainer Joseph O'Brien said: "Everyone here at Carriganog Racing is so disappointed that State Of Rest's racing career has come to a sudden end. He was without question a remarkably talented, durable and consistent performer. We asked a huge amount of him throughout his career and he delivered every time.

"He won Group/Grade 1 races on three different continents on a wide variety of tracks, ground conditions and race tempos. It all came alike to him. He had the most incredible constitution and will to win. We'll miss him greatly, but we look forward to training his progeny in the years ahead."

The Starspangledbanner colt only won once in six starts as a two-year-old but developed into a hardened performer at the top level the following season, winning the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby in the US and the Group 1 Cox Plate.

He enhanced his reputation nearer to home with two European Group 1s this season, first in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp and then under a superb front-running ride from Shane Crosse in the Prince of Wales's.

State Of Rest (centre) lands the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last OctoberCredit: Vince Caligiuri (Getty Images)

Crosse said: "It's tough. He was an amazing horse and has done it all really. It's a shame he had to go out this way but at least he's safe and sound. He was a great horse and I'm just delighted to have been part of the story."

State Of Rest provided Crosse with his first Royal Ascot winner as well as his first Group 1 winner in France, and he added: "Ascot was a day I'll never forget.

"I'll do well if I ever find one like him. I'm just very grateful to Joseph and everyone who was involved in the ownership of him to give me the chance to ride him, he was just brilliant."

Crosse partnered State Of Rest on what proved to be his last start when he finished a disappointing eighth of nine in this month's Prix Jacques le Marois. He earned connections just over £2.9 million in prize-money.

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