Animal Kingdom's Peaceful State Brave in Adelaide Guineas

Mark Smith - Saturday May 12

Winner of the Listed Nitschke Stakes a fortnight back, Peaceful State rewarded his supporters again in Saturday's $150,000 Listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m) although the finish may have been a little too close for comfort.

Sent off an odds-on chance under John Allen, the Darren Weir-trained colt was caught wide and a long way back coming to the home turn.

While he had to chase down the free-wheeling Sircconi, Peaceful State came under attack from the Tony McEvoy-trained Over Exposure who got within a long-head with Sircconi a half-head back in third.

Weir said the future program for Peaceful State was not set in stone although he did not rule out a trip to Brisbane with the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) an option.

"Travelling into the straight I thought he was really going to let go but the leader (Sircconi) gave a good kick and the second horse (Over Exposure) was really brave as well," Weir told Racing.com.

"Good horses seem to be able to get the job done and I think he's a good horse.

"Going forward I'm not sure what to do but I think he'll get over a bit further at some stage, whether we head to Queensland next I'm not really sure either."

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Runner-up in the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas and Group II MRC Sandown Guineas, Peaceful State advances his record to 4 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 9 starts with earnings of $431,075.

A homebred for Katsumi Yoshida, the son of Animal Kingdom is a half-brother to Australian Horse Of The Year, 7-time Group 1 winner Weekend Hussler.

He is the sixth and final foal of the Helissio mare Weekend Beauty who is a half-sister to the Group III winners Phantom Chief and Saturday Fever out of the Group III winner and multiple Group 1 placed Not On Friday (At Talaq).

Weekend Beauty is also the dam of Talaq Dancer (Black Hawk) who is the dam of Group 1 Toorak Handicap winner Lucky Hussler.

Kentucky Derby hero Animal Kingdom (USA) (pictured) will not be returning to Arrowfield Stud in 2018.

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