6 days ago
Trainer Annabel Archibald can build on recent Melbourne success with Nellie Leylax and I Am The Empire at The Valley
Trainer Annabel Archibald could build on a recent Melbourne hot streak on Saturday at The Valley with Nellie Leylax and I Am The Empire.
A light weight and bold racing style, which should suit The Valley, could help Nellie Leylax upstage Sayedaty Sadaty in the Travis Harrison Cup (2040m).
Nellie Leylax placed fourth last start at Flemington, two lengths behind in-form Sayedaty Sadaty.
Nellie Leylax has a 6kg advantage on Saturday – 4.5kg better off compared to last start.
The four-year-old Calyx gelding settled behind the speed at Flemington, crossed from a wide draw, and maintained the gallop as the pacier Sayedaty Sadaty surged clear late.
Sayedaty Sadaty is $3 favourite to complete a hat-trick of Saturday wins, with Nellie Leylax ($5) and Charterhouse ($6.50) next best in the market.
'He's a horse up on speed, very genuine, tough horse, quite one-paced,' Archibald, who trains in partnership with husband Rob, said.
'We thought be interesting to try The Valley with him, I thought his run was good last start.
'He came again on the line … he looks a nice horse.'
• Melbourne Cup plans grow for US stayer
Imported stayer Nellie Leylax ploughed through preferred Heavy ground to run third on debut for the stable in May.
He rebounded from a flat second-up run to place fourth the past two starts at Rosehill and Flemington respectively.
Sayedaty Sadaty has found his rhythm ðŸ'°
Definitely a horse to keep an eye on going into the Spring.
— Mitchell Bazley (@MitchellBazley) July 19, 2025
Nellie Leylax is also accepted at Randwick, albeit as sixth emergency for an 1800m race.
'I was actually hoping to send him to Sydney because he loves bottomless ground but he's sixth emergency, so he'll probably stay here,' Archibald said.
'All his form in Europe is on bottomless ground … he's far superior on that sort of ground.
'But a light weight (Saturday) … if he can roll along up on the pace, he's a genuine horse and that sort of horse should suit The Valley.'
Archibald has I Am The Empire in the 2500m Benchmark 78 at The Valley.
The last-start Sandown winner also likes to 'lead and dominate'.
'He's hard to catch (form wise),' Archibald said.
'But when he's on song and can get his own way like that (led last start), he's a nice genuine horse.'
Sydney-based Archibald has saddled a winner the past three Melbourne metropolitan race cards.
The Group 1 trainer, based out of Warwick Farm and a satellite Scone yard, recently opened a 'game changer' Flemington stable.
Archibald has a smaller footprint at Flemington, 24 boxes and sand yards, compared to Pakenham previously but the Melbourne location is more convenient from Sydney.
'I've been down here way more now, just because it's easier to get to,' Archibald said.
'We haven't been there long but I feel like (the horses have) been running really well, started to get a few winners out of there.'
Archibald saddled Duke Atreides to win at Sandown last Wednesday under jockey Ethan Brown.
The Written Tycoon colt is half-brother to multiple Group 1-placed Best Of Bordeaux.
Duke Atreides will now be aimed at the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 30.
The next start could act as a potential springboard to stallion-making Group 1 features, the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) or Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
'Ethan said he feels like he's got quite a lot of quality and will probably stretch out in trip,' Archibald said.
'He's a half to Best Of Bordeaux (Golden Slipper and Manikato Stakes placed), whose a stallion, so you've got that dream alive with him.
'He's got to keep progressing, which I think he will … he ran that whole race (at Sandown) with ears pricked.'
