Libertad shocks the punters at $71 in Victory Stakes

News.com.au

03-05-2025

Three years ago, Annabel Neasham watched on as her superstar galloper Zaaki was beaten as a $1.24 favourite in the Group 1 Doomben Cup.
On Saturday at Eagle Farm, the newly married Annabel Archibald was the queen of the roughie as Libertad was a quaddie killer when stunning punters with a $71 blowout in the Group 2 Victory Stakes.
Life just keeps getting better for the trainer, who recently married co-trainer Rob Archibald, as she scored both Eagle Farm Group 2 features after earlier winning the Queensland Guineas with Depth Of Character.
Few saw Libertad's win coming.
But it was hard not to be impressed in his second run back from a year-long injury lay-off and bookies slashed his odds from $101 to $15 for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 in a fortnight.
Jedibeel ran a narrow second for Brad Widdup and Golden Mile was terrific for James Cummings and Godolphin as a $41 chance in third.
A real head bobbing finish in the G2 Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm, and it's the outsider Libertad who gets his nose down on the line! 😮 @ANeashamRacing | @BrisRacingClub | @TrilogyRacing1 pic.twitter.com/xwW01LhTIP
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025
The first of the Queenslanders home was evergreen warrior Rothfire in fourth, with trainer Rob Heathcote and connections delighted and indicating they would give him a shot at the 10,000.
'On the strength of that run, we would have to run him 10,000,' Heathcote said.
'There was pressure on inside and outside, was the last man standing and he was entitled to tire.
'He is as tough as Buff (Heathcote's former Group 1 star Buffering).'
The Victory Stakes left more questions than answers with equal favourite Far Too Easy finishing second last, fancied Hidden Wealth near the tail and Coleman for the Chris Waller stable nowhere near the winner.
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But, for Annabel and Rob Archibald, it was a triumph of epic proportions given Libertad had been to hell and back on the injury front.
'It is great to get him back on track,' Archibald said.
'He's had a couple of setbacks with a septic joint. He is lucky as they can be nasty.
'Then he had a little stress fracture when he came back from that.
'Looking back through his form, he's won some good races and placed behind Joliestar in the Arrowfield so I knew he had the form on the board but I thought he may be a run short.
'I originally had Jamie Mott booked on Lady Laguna and I said this morning 'sorry, she's gone to Hawkesbury instead'.
'I'm sure that when Jamie looked at the (betting) price of Libertad he didn't think he was in with a chance.'
Mott now feels sure Libertad can make an impact in Group 1 company in the Doomben 10,000.
'Today he hit the front and got very lost and was like a drunken sailor for a time there until the second horse joined him and kind of headed him,' Mott said.
'To his credit he fought hard and was able to get him on the line.
'With so long off, he should have so much more improvement.'