After a promising three-year-old season, Firm Agreement didn’t reach the heights expected of him in the spring, but co-trainer Rob Archibald is hoping he can get back on track this campaign.
Twice Group 1 placed, including when runner-up to Aeliana in last year’s ATC Australian Derby (2400m), Firm Agreement didn’t show up in five runs last preparation, prompting connections to give him a good spell and start afresh.
“He has been frustrating because he was so good as a three-year-old,” Archibald said.
“Maybe now he’s a bit more mature, a bit stronger, fingers crossed he comes back a bit better this ‘prep’.”
Firm Agreement resumes in Saturday’s Academy Brand Handicap (1600m) at Randwick and while he should improve as he’s stepped up in journey, he has performed well fresh.
Archibald also expects the four-year-old to appreciate a rain-affected track with Randwick rated a soft 7 on Wednesday.
“He’s a horse that loves a bit of sting out of the track,” he said.
“He’s had a really long break, he seems to have come back well, so hopefully he can run well.”
Firm Agreement will be joined in the race by stablemates Mighty Ulysses, Diablo Bolt and Lincoln Rocks.
The former is chasing his first win since the 2023 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, and while he can be hard to catch, he showed a glimpse of his best when placed at Warrnambool last start.
“He’s a horse that can enjoy rain-affected tracks, which he looks like he will get,” Archibald said.
“He’s a hard one to work out, but it was a good start (to his campaign), so hopefully he can keep going with it.
“Diablo Bolt has been in Brisbane, and Lincoln Rocks was a bit disappointing first-up at Warrnambool, but he loves the wet too.
“He just raced a bit fresh the other day. Hopefully he can get that freshness out of him and he’ll love the track.”
Saturday metropolitan racing returns to Sydney for the first time since Anzac Day with the past three weekend meetings having been showcase cards at Hawkesbury, Gosford and Scone.
