Cox Plate winner State of Rest has returned to action in style, taking out the Group 1 Prix Ganay in France in the early hours of Monday morning (AEST).
The four-year-old hadn't raced since the controversial win at Moonee Valley last October, which saw the colt survive a protest to win the famous race.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained runner beat two of Australia's best - Verry Elleegant and Anamoe - on his way to a win on Australian debut.
State of Rest's win overnight over 2100m in France would be his third-straight G1 success, having won the Saratoga Derby in the US last August.
The Irish-based runner proved far too strong in the six-horse field, and provided punters with healthy odds of $5.50 with TAB.
Watch the final stages of State of Rest's G1 Prix Ganay win below.
Globe-trotting star! State Of Rest gets his third consecutive Group 1, winning the Prix Ganay at @paris_longchamp for @ShaneCrosse and @JosephOBrien2! pic.twitter.com/aIscZWjD1F
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 1, 2022
The Cox Plate champion is off the mark in Europe 🤩 pic.twitter.com/neIYSdudn2
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 2, 2022
O'Brien certainly isn't afraid to travel with State of Rest, who has now raced in six different countries across nine starts, producing three wins and a further three placings.
However, the win in France was State of Rest's first victory on European soil.
