Latest news with #BRCStakes
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Cool Archie comes from nowhere to claim stunning victory in Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes
'I've got a stallion!' They were the first words that beaming owner Max Whitby said to trainer Chris Munce as the dynamic duo teamed up again with crack colt Cool Archie, this time taking out the $1m Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at a sodden Eagle Farm. They scored the rich victory in the nick of time, with jockeys post-race voting not to continue the double-pronged Group 1 meeting due to poor visibility. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! After snatching a powerful win from the jaws of defeat, when Cool Archie was at the back and with a wall of horses in front of him, there is little doubt prominent owner Whitby has a tantalising future breeding prospect on his hands. But first things first and Cool Archie, who steamed through the saturated Eagle Farm track to score his fourth consecutive win, is the new $6 favourite for the Group 1 JJ Atkins on Stradbroke Handicap day in a fortnight. Munce and his co-trainer son Corey have been telling anyone who will listen they have a top notch youngster on their hands. Two-year-old Cool Archie could now even be powering past their own expectations. Chris Munce, who has a decades-long friendship with Whitby stretching back to when he rode Savabeel to glory in the 2004 Cox Plate for the owner, was gobsmacked by the nature of the Sires' win. A barnstorming win by Cool Archie in the G2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes, and that's four in a row to the @munceracing galloper! 🙌 @BrisRacingClub â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 The former champion jockey turned trainer thought the colt had blown his chances, being so far back in the field and having to pass so many others. 'I basically wrote him off at the half-mile to be honest, I thought he would need a miracle from where he was,' Munce said. 'I thought he was in an unwinnable position. 'When they all fanned and everything opened up, he was able to take advantage of it. 'This colt has certainly flown under the radar. 'His work on Tuesday morning was terrific, Martin (Harley) galloped him on Tuesday and couldn't have been more impressed with how he went. 'I think Martin wanted to save a bit of energy in the race today. '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 kept coming, so the mile of the JJ Atkins is definitely not going to be an issue.' Harley also had few doubts about the 1600m of the JJ Atkins being an concern for Cool Archie. 'As we knew, he wears his heart on his sleeve,' Harley said. 'He is improving run to run. He relaxed beautifully and had the will to win.' Cool Archie was backed from $9 to $7 and beat runner-up Farnicle ($19) by almost three lengths and Call Da Vinci ($26) was third. Fifth-placed Matt Dunn colt Torque To Be Sure was a terrific run for fifth and would have finished much closer on dry track.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Michael Hawkes declares Gallo Nero ‘horse to beat' in BRC Sires' Produce Stakes
A bullish Michael Hawkes has declared 'we're not wary of anybody' in Saturday's BRC Sires' Produce Stakes, believing the wide spaces of Eagle Farm will suit his colt Gallo Nero. Leading jockey Tommy Berry will step up to steer Gallo Nero after regular rider Tyler Schiller suffered a fractured back on Wednesday when filly Rockabye Roxy bucked the hoop in a frightening incident at Canterbury Park. Schiller will miss at least six weeks, ruling him out of the Queensland winter carnival, including the plum ride on $4.20 favourite Gallo Nero in the $1m BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m). The Michael Freedman -trained gelding Aerodrome is $6.50, with local star Grafterburners next on the line at $7. 'It's very disappointing for Tyler,' Michael Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, said on Friday. 'Tommy Berry's a great back-up but Tyler's done all the work on the horse. His time will come.' Hawkes believed Gallo Nero deserved to win his last-start – the Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben (1200m) two weeks ago when he finished runner-up behind Cool Archie after being forced to run wide without cover for most of the trip on a Heavy 8 track. • No Frankie, no worries for Giga Kick in Group 1 attack 'He should've won first-up, everyone saw it,' he said. 'In this day and age unfortunately barriers win races and he was no closer than four-deep probably the whole way. 'He deserved to win. Take nothing away from the other horse (Cool Archie) but he got the breaks and went through them while we had to go around them. 'He had a hard run – first-up on a bog track is not ideal – but his first time at 1400m should suit. 'Hopefully he gets a lovely run because I think Eagle Farm will definitely suit him. It's a big, roomy track that he'll appreciate. 'We're not wary of anybody, he's the horse to beat. 'As long as he gets a good run in transit, everything goes his way and he has a bit of luck then he's going to figure in the finish.' Both Aerodrome and Gallo Nero are $8 chances for the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) for 2YOs on June 14 at Eagle Farm. Freedman said he would prefer a dry track on Saturday for the undefeated Aerodrome, despite him winning the Clarendon Stakes (1400m) last start on heavy ground at Hawkesbury. But with persistent rain on Friday and up to 40mm forecast for Brisbane on Saturday, the Golden Slipper-winning trainer won't get his wish. 'I was hoping we'd get a firmer track because he's got such a good action,' Freedman said. 'Whilst he won on a Heavy 8 track at Hawkesbury, I don't think he was as good on that surface as he was the start before on a drier track. 'But look, he's travelled up well and he's very bright and happy. I was happy with his work here (in Sydney) on Tuesday. 'It just remains to be seen how the track plays.'
