Obvious target for smart filly

State The Obvious significantly improved her chances of a crack at a major pot of gold with a determined display to win at Te Aroha.

The daughter of our exciting young stallion Sword Of State, who also sired homebred runner-up Imperial Rose, overcame testing conditions to bank $10,360 and better her hopes of a spot in the Karaka Millions.

“That’s the plan and it’s worked out well, over the moon,” said Graham Richardson, who prepares the filly with Rogan Norval.

We bred State The Obvious, who has shortened to an $18 Karaka Millions chance, and remained in the ownership group after she was sold for $170,000 to Richardson Racing and Brendon McCullum at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.

“She is a lovely horse, we didn’t know if she would handle the ground, and she’ll only get better and better,” Richardson said.

State The Obvious settled near the pace and from third on the bend, rounded off strongly to down the Stephen Marsh-trained debutante Imperial Rose who we sold for $180,000 at Karaka.

“She’s still learning but is very tough. She fought hard and will improve with that,” winning rider Rihaan Goyaram said.

State The Obvious is the first foal of Pullyoursocksup, a Thewayyouare mare who won on four occasions and a sister to the Listed Matamata Slipper winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Prince Mambo.

Pullyoursocksup has subsequently produced an Embellish filly and a son of Almanzor before returning to Sword Of State.

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