State Of Rest proved strongest at the finish when completing a Group One hat-trick on Sunday at Longchamp, recording three top-level wins on three different continents.

There was an even break from this field of six with the early pace coming from last year's winner Mare Australis ahead of Smile Makers. The market leaders were settled around three lengths off the leading two, while the other four clustered together taking the far right-handed turn. Skalleti was the back marker, no more than five lengths off the pace setter.

Eventual winner State Of Rest was caught three wide at halfway but travelled strongly. Similar comments could also be applied to the other runners.

Turning for home Smile Makers was the first one under pressure. Winning jockey, Shane Crosse angled out the four-year-old, four off the running rail for a clear run. Pretty Tiger and Skalleti were still tracking the leaders and needed luck in the final 400m. Gradually, Shane Crosse asked his mount for more and went through the gears nicely and reached the front passing the 300m marker with Sealiway and Mare Australis boxing on well only a neck away. Other challenges that looked threatening on the outside were Pretty Tiger and Skalleti who had to switch course but were making good headway. However, State Of Rest kept on finding more and proved strongest at the winning line to be three-quarter of length winner. A short head split Pretty Tiger and Sealiway ahead of Mare Australis in fourth beating Skalleti by a head. Less than two and half lengths covered the first five home.

This was the fourth career success for the four-year-old son of Starspangledbanner who made a winning debut back in June 2020 over 1200m at Fairyhouse (Ireland) prior to mixed efforts during his first season. Last year he enjoyed two international Group One victories. He won the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (1911m) in the United States in August and followed this narrowly winning the G1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in Australia.

After this Group One hat-trick, his targets for this season may include Royal Ascot (UK) in the G1 Prince Of Wales Stakes (2000m) or G1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) with another trip to Australia potentially a long term goal.