Cool Archie will chase Queensland biggest two-year-old prize as he looks to extend a four-run winning streak in the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Corey only joined father Chris, who trained Palaisipan to win the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) in 2023, as an official co-trainer in August last year but the duo have already had great success.
That success has largely been spearheaded by Cool Archie who has won the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) and Group 2 BRC Sires Produce (1400m) in consecutive starts.
A dominant 2.8 length winner coming from well back in the Sires on May 31st, Corey Munce believes the colt by first-season sire Cool Aza Beel has ticked all the boxes ahead of Saturday’s feature.
“He’s cool as a cucumber,” Munce said.
“He’s come through the run pretty well. He was a little tired Sunday, but he’s rebounded off the run as well as we’d like.
“Considering the run he had, he’s done a really good job.”
By a son of Savabeel, Cool Archie has given the stable every indication he’ll relish the step to 1600m on Saturday.
“Zero problems there, and he’s probably almost run a mile with the work he’s done so no concerns in that regard,” Munce said.
“The blinkers will remain off, and you know gee whiz, he’s a versatile little horse; he can be ridden very cold, he can be up there, and he can be midfield or better, so he’s a very versatile and honest horse.”
That versatility should come to the fore on Saturday with Cool Archie drawing centrally in barrier 9 of 17.
A bit of pace work on Saturday morning was the final serious tune-up for Saturday before a ‘stretch of the legs’ on Tuesday morning, and Munce believes Cool Archie has continued to improve.
“We wouldn’t have run him in the Magic Millions in January as a maidener for nothing,” Munce said.
“He was wide throughout that run, and I think with a better barrier draw, the old cliche, he certainly finishes a lot closer.
“After the summer carnival, he only had about four or five weeks out and come straight back to attack the winter.
“He was one that just kept improving.”
Cool Archie is aiming to become just the fifth horse to complete the Sires/Atkins double, most recently achieved by champion two-year-old Broadsiding.
Cool Archie is a $3.50 chance for Saturday from Chris Waller’s Hidden Achievement at $4.80 who has drawn barrier six.
