Promising colt State Visit is set to take on his biggest challenge yet as he lines up in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick in search of a breakthrough Group One victory.

The son of in-demand sire Wootton Bassett—whose progeny include Canterbury Stakes winner Royal Patronage and Golden Slipper placegetter Wodeton—is out of Group 1-winning mare Celebrity Queen, a 2021 Oakleigh Plate dead-heater acquired by Coolmore for $2.5 million. State Visit is her first foal and has been retained by the owners to race.

Trainer Ciaron Maher’s assistant, Johann Gerard-Dubord, says the colt is ready to stretch to 1600m for the first time and believes the distance will suit.

“The mile he will be trying for the first time but he switches off well and he’s a very fit horse,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“We’d obviously love to win a Group One or two with him.”

State Visit debuted with a stylish win at Canterbury in February, then surged home for third in the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), before finishing runner-up to Vinrock in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

James McDonald takes the reins for Saturday’s test, with the colt drawing the outside alley in a field of 12.

“At his first start he was very impressive running good sectionals but he was still very new,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“Second start he had to go all the way back and make his run on the outside, which is not easy to do, and last start he was very good. Jason (Collett) said he actually didn’t see the horse (winner Vinrock) on his inside and that’s why he came back again in the end.

“He’s got the best attitude, a beautiful action. He is a lovely colt so we will try to get that Group One win.”

In early markets, Hawkes Racing’s Nepotism leads betting for the Champagne Stakes at $4.20, with Within The Law firming into $5 and State Visit close behind at $6.50.