Archie Alexander
TDN AusNZ: Where are you from and what is your earliest racing memory?
AA: I'm from Yorkshire, North England. My earliest racing memory is of going to York races at about 6 years of age, I used to pester all the jockeys for their goggles and managed to amass quite a collection!
Archie Alexander with wife Annie and son Theo
TDN AusNZ: What is your favourite day on the racecourse?
AA: Melbourne Cup day for the quality of racing. The Melbourne Cup is one of, if not, the most recognised and prestigious race globally, as well as the prizemoney on offer and atmosphere, it’s a definite highlight and a day I look forward to each year.
TDN AusNZ: What was the biggest highlight of your season?
AA: It is a tough call between Gallic Chieftain (Fr) (Tamayuz {GB}) winning the G2 Schweppes Chairman’s Quality at Randwick or Mirette (Unencumbered), who I bought as a yearling, finishing second in the G1 Schweppes Oaks in Morphettville.
TDN AusNZ: What was the biggest highlight of your career?
AA: Lord Fandango’s (Ger) (Lord Of England) Spring 2017, winning the G2 Herbert Power and then backing up seven days later to finish fourth in the Caulfield Cup.
TDN AusNZ: Can you tell us a little bit about your job and what you love most about it?
AA: It is a pretty intense job, you never really switch off. But it is the whole process of getting a horse to win that I love most, from planning the race programme to preparing each individual horse. I really enjoy the challenge of finding the one percenters in each horse that can make the difference raceday.
TDN AusNZ: Do you have a favourite horse in work right now? Why?
AA: This is really hard as I don’t like to pick favourites, but at a push I’d say Lord Fandango (Ger) for what he has achieved for the stable and for having such a big and likeable character.
TDN AusNZ: Which is your favourite racehorse of all time? Why?
AA: Frankel (GB). His style of racing was phenomenal, he could win Group 1s from the front, back or middle and to be a champion as a 2-year-old, 3-year-old and 4-year-old is just incredible.
TDN AusNZ: Do you have any superstitions or race day rituals?
AA: Too many…
Archie Alexander with Mosh Music
TDN AusNZ: What’s the most used saying/word around the stables?
AA: The only things we came up with for this question probably aren’t worth publishing!
TDN AusNZ: Who do you think is a rising star in the racing industry? (person, not horse)
AA: William Johnson (bloodstock agent) Has assisted in the purchase of several Group 1 horses such as She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) and Single Gaze (Not A Single Doubt). He’s definitely someone we’ll be hearing more of in the near future.
TDN AusNZ: What positive change would you like to see in the industry?
AA: A racing school to train staff in all aspects of the racing industry (not just jockeys), trackriders, ground staff, assistant trainer, foreman. There are so many career opportunities in the racing industry, but it is very difficult to get into and it isn’t promoted enough as a career option in schools.
TDN AusNZ: If you weren’t in the racing industry what would you be doing?
AA: Cattle farming.
