Juvenile Summary: Archie is cool under pressure

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Cool Archie makes it four in a row

On a miserable wet day at Eagle Farm, Chris and Corey Munce-trained 2-year-old colt Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) showed he’d come through his last start G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic win easily as he chased home the leaders who battled on, skimming up the middle of the track to sweep past the front runners and prove the strongest juvenile on the day in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Ridden by Martin Harley, Cool Archie made it four wins in succession with the 2.8 length victory over Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt Farnicle (Farnan) with Bevan Laming-trained gelding Call Da Vinci (Under The Louvre) a length away in third. The start was delayed after Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding Prince Tycoon (Written Tycoon) went through the front of the gates without his rider and had to be scratched.

“What an amazing run. He’s never been that far back, I think, in his career,” Corey Munce said.

“We were confident coming in today and taking the blinkers off was probably the key there. That was all due to Martin, he was spot on. He was 110 percent right. He relished the wet track and 1400. On that you have to say that he runs a mile.”

Corey’s father Chris added, “I think he jumped alright. I think Martin wanted to save a bit of energy. He wasn't too fussed on getting in close to the rail which was probably a winning move.

“I just liked the way the horse hept coming, so the mile is definitely not going to be an issue. Everybody was sceptical that he would but on what we've seen today, there's no doubt he's improved (from) the other day in the Spirit Of Boom. When everything fanned and everyone got runs through, he took advantage of it.”

Cool Archie has won four of his eight starts, having debuted as an October juvenile, then running third in the G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes at his third start. He had a spell after the R.Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and is unbeaten this campaign.

Purchased by Mick Malone Bloodstock for $100,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Newhaven Park who stand his first season sire Cool Aza Beel (NZ) who has sired four winners, and also has stakes placed Cobra Club.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions

Cool Archie is the sixth foal to race, fifth winner, and first stakes winner, for Aware (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) who won three races and was fourth in the Listed Oakbank Stakes. Aware is one of four winners for G2 Magic Night Stakes winner Media (Gilded Time {USA}), a half-sister to Group 2 winner Timbourina (Timber Country {USA}) and Listed winner Cardinal Virtue (Elusive Quality {USA}).

Godolphin unearth another good one with Zebra Finch

The first at Rosehill was a strong field for this time of year with a couple of pricey colts, but it was Godolphin’s homebred colt Zebra Finch (Exceed And Excel) who gritted out a tough win for trainer James Cummings, doing just enough to win by 0.24l from Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained colt Zoutanium (Zoustar) with Yulong’s $675,000 yearling purchase Hidden Achievement (I Am Invincible) in third for trainer Chris Waller.

Fourth and then third behind Aerodrome (Ole Kirk) at his first two starts, Zebra Finch now has a win from three starts and earnings over $100,000.

“He showed a bit of improvement with the blinkers where he could take a forward spot which helped him in the run today with no pace on. I’m sure he’d be better ridden a bit quieter but just for today, it worked out perfect,” said stable representative Paul Reid.

And on the potential to run in the G1 JJ Atkins Plate next? “That’s on the cards, we wanted to see him run well today if he pulls up well, the team will work out where he goes.”

From the third-last crop of Champion Sire Exceed And Excel, who retired before the beginning of the 2024 season, Zebra Finch will aim to join his sire’s illustrious list of 219 stakes winners when he heads northwards.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy agreed, saying, “If he pulls up well, I'd send him up there, because he is going to get a mile. You obviously need a horse that runs a mile and you need a horse on the improve and that's possibly what he is going to be.

“It wasn't a big winning margin but I am sure with a better quality horse to aim at, he is going to be better again. He is the sort of colt that only does enough (but) I am sure if he got challenged there was an extra kick in the lock. So if James (Cummings) and the team decide to go to Brisbane for that mile race, I wouldn't be against it.”

Zebra Finch is the fifth foal and fifth winner for Painted Firetail (Lonhro) who won twice and was fourth in the G3 Typhoon Tracey Stakes, and she has a yearling filly Fringilla (Ghaiyyath {Ire}). Zebra Finch is a half-brother to G3 ATC Adrian Knox Stakes winner Honeycreeper (Teofilo {NZ}) who produced a Proisir filly in 2024 as her first foal.

Zebra Finch’s third dam is G2 Deauville Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Blue Note (Fr) (Habitat {USA}) who produced G1 Middle Park Stakes winner and sire Zieten (USA) and G1 Chevely Park Stakes winner Blue Duster (USA) (Danzig {USA}).

Salty Pearl and Wiltshire Square win for Maher stable

The Ciaron Maher stable opened the day at both Caulfield and Werribee with a pair of nice juvenile fillies in stakes placed Salty Pearl (Tagaloa) and Wiltshire Square (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

Ridden by Ben Allen at Caulfield, Salty Pearl won by 0.4l from colt Millennium Blade (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and colt Eton Affair (Peltzer). Salty Pearl had run third to Steel Trap (King’s Legacy) and Brave Design (Brave Smash {Jpn}) when last seen in the G3 David Coles Stakes in South Australia, and took her record to a win from four starts and earnings over $150,000.

“We didn’t think she was at her best over in Adelaide, and she had a nice three-week gap and we kept her very fresh. She had the writing on the wall in the field she faced today. She got further back than we thought she would but a lovely steer by Ben and she was able to get the split,” said stable representative Jack Turnbull.

“She’s professional, she’s had a few goes at it now, and she’s tractable, so it worked out really well. Without talking to Ciaron, I think you’d have to have a good think about the spring. She obviously goes good and she’s on an upward trajectory. Races like the Cap d’Antibes and the Scarborough, those sprinting 3-year-old races, would suit but whether we go one more, I’ll have a chat to the boss and we’ll work it out on Monday.”

She is the second winner for first season sire and G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa after Listed winner Spicy Lu, and he’s also sired stakes placed Alottago and Meisho. Salty Pearl was purchased by Starblue Consultancy and Ciaron Maher Racing for $75,000 from Sullivan Bloodstock’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft who also sold her yearling half-sister by Nicconi for $54,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale to Tzaferis Racing and Peter Morgan.

Salty Pearl is the second foal and first winner for juvenile winner Leaven Of Malice (Sebring), a half-sister to G3 MRC Chairman's Stakes winner Mildred (Hinchinbrook) and their dam is R.Listed Magic Millions 3YO Trophy winner Tempest Tost (Statue Of Liberty {USA}). Tempest Tost is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Notoire (Export Price {Fr}) and Listed winner Well Known (The Pug {GB}). The three are out of Lady Violet (Old Crony {USA}) who holds the Australian Stud Book record for consecutive foals at 18, and 14 of them raced for 12 winners including the aforementioned three stakes winners and stakes placed Livigno (Churchill Downs).

Over at Werribee, Linda Meech rode Salty Pearl’s stablemate 2-year-old filly Wiltshire Square (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to a 1.25l victory, her first win in six starts, but she did place in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes on debut back in November and then followed that up with placings in the both the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f) and G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (f).

Bred by Ciaron Maher Racing, Wiltshire Square becomes Wootton Bassett’s ninth Southern Hemisphere winner, and she’s the first foal of Sausedge (Shamus Award) who won six races. She has a colt weanling by Maurice (Jpn) and no yearling. Sausedge is a half-sister to G2 Matriarch Stakes winner Vintedge (Flying Spur) and Listed winner Youths Edge (Jeune {GB}) and to winning mare Couredge (Show A Heart), dam of G2 Light Fingers Stakes winner Every Rose (Choisir).

Platinum Diamond to be aimed at Castletown Stakes

Fourth on debut, Lisa Latta-trained 2-year-old filly Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) will be aimed at late season juvenile black type after winning at Wanganui on Saturday. The December foal was overlooked in the market at $16, but defied the odds to win by 0.8l from Gavin Sharrock trained pair of Country Salon (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) with favourite Spandeedo (NZ) (Ferrando {NZ}) ruining his chances by running wide on the turn but finishing in third across the line.

“We’ve just taken this filly along quietly, being such a late foal,” Latta said. “She showed a fair bit at the trials, and then her debut run at Hawera was good. She was impressive today and we may look at the Castletown now, but we’ll just see how she pulls up.”

She is the fifth Southern Hemisphere winner for first season sire Hello Youmzain (Fr) whose best in this part of the world so far is Listed winner Lucy In The Sky (NZ). Platinum Diamond was bought by her trainer from Beaufort Downs’ New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for NZ$90,000.

Platinum Diamond is the second foal and second winner for winning mare Spritz (NZ) (Thorn Park) who is a half-sister to G1 Diamond Stakes-placed Corsage (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), dam of G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel).

Point Score wins at Kembla Grange

Blue Point (Ire) colt Point Score came to Kembla Grange with mixed form, having shown plenty at the trials, but had failed in his only start back in the spring. But he put that behind him with an impressive 1.8l victory over the 1000 metre trip for apprentice jockey Mollie Fitzgerald. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt Mysterious Master (Tagaloa) was second and Gary Portelli-trained colt Kilbrannan (Pierata) was third.

Video: Watch Point Score race replay, video courtesy of Racing NSW

“Very happy with the win. It’s been a long time coming,” said trainer Mandy Turner.

“He trialled early in the season for third, then won at the trials, then when he went to Randwick he pulled up with really bad heat stress. It took a lot to get him over that, then I’ve built him up slowly for today.”

As for the next step, Point Score’s well-being is the first concern. “I want to see how he pulls up, he seems bright (after the race) and he’s such a good eater, but let’s let the dust settle and decide from there. He’s an absolute gentleman for a colt but he’s huge for a 2-year-old. He has two really prominent wall-eyes too, very white around them, but he’s the opposite of what you expect when you see that. He’s so kind.”

A $150,000 purchase by his trainer from Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Point Score is the third foal and first winner for winning mare Hill Of Grange (Helmet) who is a half-sister to G2 Rubiton Stakes winner and G1 AJ Moir Stakes-placed Heatherly (Lonhro), dam of G3 Canonbury Stakes winner Red Resistance (Russian Revolution). Heathery’s unraced dam Dancing Heather (Danzero) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Linton (Galileo {Ire}).