Latest news with #MaxWhitby
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
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Chris Munce colt Cool Archie continues surge through the grades with victory in Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben
Chris Munce won a Cox Plate for big-time owner Max Whitby and their decades-long friendship hit another high note when exciting young colt Cool Archie scored the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben. Legendary former jockey Munce rode Savabeel to glory in the 2004 Cox Plate for Whitby and the two have been tight ever since. When Munce retired from riding and turned to training in Queensland a decade ago, Whitby was one of the first owners who supported him. The former Sydney-based owner, now living on the Gold Coast, was trackside at Doomben to watch former Irish jockey Martin Harley conjure a wonderful ride to score on Cool Archie. Harley was first out of the gates on Cool Archie but let others go and was in a stalking position, surging to the lead near the post and holding off the challenge from runner-up Gallo Nero. The narrow victory made it three wins on the bounce and continued Cool Archie's surge towards elite races like the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes and the Group 1 JJ Atkins. After Saturday's 1200m win, Cool Archie firmed from $26 to $11 in Sires' Produce betting and $26 to $15 in the JJ Atkins market. Birthday boy Munce, who trains with son Corey, was thrilled he had captured Saturday's race for Whitby. Another winner for @munceracing, with Cool Archie getting the nose down in the Spirit Of Boom Classic! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 'Max has been a great supporter, as a jockey I won a Cox Plate and a Caulfield Guineas for him and we even won a Darwin Cup,' Munce said. 'I've had a lot of luck with Max over the years. 'Even when I first started training he sent me up a horse called First Crush, and a few other horses, to kick me off. 'And he took shares in other horses, it's great to be able to reward him with a winner like this today. 'It's on to the Sires' next and then the JJ Atkins. 'I'll have to have a chat with Martin (Harley) to see if we take the blinkers off. 'He's a really nice colt, you wouldn't think he's a colt because he's so laid-back and casual. 'He's got a heart as big as he is, which is all you can ask for.' Whitby is known for his love of a bet and relished the win of Cool Archie, who firmed from $10 into $8. 'I think we might have a proper colt on our hands,' Whitby declared. Harley knew Cool Archie had match fitness on his side, but insisted it was a 'pretty special' win. 'He's a horse we hold in high regard, he travelled smoothly today and luckily I couldn't get there too soon because there were horses in front of me,' Harley said. 'He wanted to go through the gap and showed a great will to win.' Third-placed Grafterburners lost no admirers after covering more ground than the early explorers. â– â– â– â– â– Schweida eyes bigger riches for El Morzillo Aided by a clever ride by Jason Collett, Queensland filly El Morzillo laid down a potential Group 1 winter carnival marker when she was ridden outside of her comfort zone to score at Doomben. El Morzillo surged past the $1m prizemoney mark when she was much closer than most expected in the run, with Collett sitting pretty just behind the leaders in the QTIS 3YO Plate (1350m). On a heavy Doomben track, El Morzillo may have had no hope had she been ridden to her normal pattern of dropping well back in the field and swooping home. Trainer Kelly Schweida would love to get the three-year-old grey filly into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handica p or Group 1 Tatt's Tiara. El Morzillo had a rating of 92 before Saturday's Doomben win and even with the looming ratings boost she would almost certainly need to score the Group 3 Fred Best Classic to surge into the Stradbroke field. A brilliant Jason Collett ride sees El Morzillo come out on top in Race 3 at Doomben. @schweidaracing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 The winner of the Fred Best, at Eagle Farm on May 31, earns a golden ticket into the Stradbroke, Regardless of the future, Saturday's win was pleasing for Schweida as he has high winter carnival hopes for the filly who won a $1m restricted sprint at Flemington in March. She was slightly disappointing when she resumed in the Group 2 Victory Stakes, but probably had no hope to score that race considering she was last in the run and they zipped home. The Doomben win on Saturday added to El Morzillo's impressive resume. 'Plan A was not to be too far back on the heavy track today,' Schweida said. 'She was tough, as her normal pattern is to get back and find the line. 'I'd love to get her into a Stradbroke, if we could, or a Tatt's Tiara would be a nice race for her if she is good enough.' El Morzillo was sent out a $4.80 chance and got home over $81 roughie Ruins Of Rome and $9 prospect Cosmo Centaurus. The Godolphin favourite, Pisces, was unplaced under James McDonald after being slow away and then trying to make ground along the inside.
The Australian
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Briasa confirmed for The Everest
Brilliant TJ Smith Stakes winner Briasa, racing's new 'grey flash', is the second horse locked in for this year's $20m The Everest. Hawkes Racing made the announcement at lunch time on Saturday with the gelding snapped up by slot holders Max Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett. Briasa confirmed himself as one of the most exciting sprinters in the country when the son of Smart Missile got the better of Overpass to prevail in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes on day one of The Championships. 'It's very exciting obviously but it's nice to get it done early so we can map out the best way to get him there to give us the best possible chance at the race,' co-trainer Michael Hawkes said. 'He's still out in the paddock for a bit but we'll work out when we get him back and he'll guide us on the path we plot. 'He'll have one or two runs into The Everest and he stay in Sydney and he'll run in the lead ups. 'We just need to decide how many and which ones.' Briasa's rise into The Everest calculations has been sensational with the rising five-year-old only breaking his maiden in autumn last year. He's since put together seven wins from 10 starts and Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, believes his best could still be ahead of him. Michael Hawkes. Picture:'He's a young horse that's still learning but he's already got a TJ under his belt,' he said. 'Six months ago, he was in a benchmark 85 on the Kensington so to have come that far in such a short time only emphasises how exciting he is, and we still don't know where his ceiling is. 'Every preparation he's improved as a racehorse and there's no reason why that won't be the case again when he starts off his Everest campaign.' Unbeaten colt Private Harry was the first horse locked in for The Everest following his The Galaxy victory on Golden Slipper day. The Nathan Doyle-trained sprinter was purchased by racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong after the win and will run in their slot in the race. The Everest betting is dominated by Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising ($1.90 favourite) with plans for the David Hayes-trained sprint weapon still to be officially snapped up for the race. Private Harry is the $6 second favourite with Briasa on the third line of betting at $8.
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Briasa locked and loaded for The Everest
Brilliant TJ Smith Stakes winner Briasa, racing's new 'grey flash', is the second horse locked in for this year's $20m The Everest. Hawkes Racing made the announcement at lunch time on Saturday with the gelding snapped up by slot holders Max Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett. Briasa confirmed himself as one of the most exciting sprinters in the country when the son of Smart Missile got the better of Overpass to prevail in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes on day one of The Championships. 'It's very exciting obviously but it's nice to get it done early so we can map out the best way to get him there to give us the best possible chance at the race,' co-trainer Michael Hawkes said. 'He's still out in the paddock for a bit but we'll work out when we get him back and he'll guide us on the path we plot. 'He'll have one or two runs into The Everest and he stay in Sydney and he'll run in the lead ups. 'We just need to decide how many and which ones.' Briasa's rise into The Everest calculations has been sensational with the rising five-year-old only breaking his maiden in autumn last year. He's since put together seven wins from 10 starts and Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, believes his best could still be ahead of him. 'He's a young horse that's still learning but he's already got a TJ under his belt,' he said. 'Six months ago, he was in a benchmark 85 on the Kensington so to have come that far in such a short time only emphasises how exciting he is, and we still don't know where his ceiling is. 'Every preparation he's improved as a racehorse and there's no reason why that won't be the case again when he starts off his Everest campaign.' Briasa is brilliant in the G1 T J Smith Stakes! He makes it 7 wins from just 9 starts as he races away for @HawkesRacing and @G1TySchil! ðŸ'¨ @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 Unbeaten colt Private Harry was the first horse locked in for The Everest following his The Galaxy victory on Golden Slipper day. The Nathan Doyle-trained sprinter was purchased by racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong after the win and will run in their slot in the race. The Everest betting is dominated by Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising ($1.90 favourite) with plans for the David Hayes-trained sprint weapon still to be officially snapped up for the race. Private Harry is the $6 second favourite with Briasa on the third line of betting at $8.
