The racing at Eagle Farm was abandoned mid-meeting on Saturday, but not before Cool Archie turned in a scintillation come from behind win to rubber stamp the fact that he is one of the finds of the season in Queensland.
Co-trainer Chris Munce had said in the days leading up to the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes that he couldn’t understand how Cool Archie was quoted at double figure odds in the pre-race betting … but even he had to have had his heart in his mouth when Cool Archie languished in third last place and seven lengths off the leading action as the Sires field approached the home turn.
Seven lengths … a heavy 10 track … and eleven runners spread out in front of him, that left Cool Archie with a tough multi-faceted task to complete over the final 400m if he was to salute and, boy, the way he tackled that challenge was a pleasure to watch.
His level of acceleration on the unforgiving ground was nothing short of superb. His tenacity was riveting. His commitment to the cause was unwavering all the way to the line as his concerted effort remained in sync with the urgings of jockey Martin Harley who has built up such a good rapport with the horse.
The result put a second successive Group 2 win on the board for Cool Archie, following his win in the Spirit Of Boom Classic, and it extended his winning sequence to four straight wins.
Up until the Sires Produce Cool Archie had yet to race beyond 1200m, but co-trainer Chris Munce was adamant beforehand that Cool Archie would get the 1400m trip of the Sires ‘on his ear’ … and, after that Sires’ performance, the Munce team have no concerns about Cool Archie’s next step up in distance when the bar will be raised once again, both in class and distance, in the big one … the Group 1 JJ Atkins which will be contested over 1600m in two weeks time.
In the J.J. Atkins Cool Archie will attempt to complete a five run unbeaten streak this preparation, going from a success in Maiden company to being a Group 1 winner … a rare achievement … and the very fact Cool Archie has put himself in a position where this is now a real possibility underlines the massive strides he has made over the last month-and-a-half.
‘What an amazing run,” enthused co-trainer Corey Munce, speaking after the running of the Sires. “He’s never been that far back, I think, in his career.
“We were confident coming in today and taking the blinkers off was probably the key there. That was all due to Martin (Harley). He was spot on. He was 110% right. He loves a wet track the 1400m he relished … and on that you have to say he runs a mile.
And co-trainer Chris Munce concurred. “I just like the way he just kept coming, so the mile is definitely not an issue.”
Harley was also spot on with his pre-race prediction. Unfazed by the sticky barrier draw (ten out of fourteen) Harley had stated, “He has grown up an awful lot in his last three starts and I think he will take a lot of beating.”
And post-race, like the Munce team, Harley’s thinking was already in forward-looking mode.
“Will he get the 1600m (of the J.J. Atkins)? Yes, he will get it,” stated Harley.
So, while there was plenty to celebrate in the moment, the comments from his co-trainers and the jockey indicate there was still some unfinished business to take care of and, all staying well, Cool Archie could not be going to his grand final in better shape.
The last word from Harley sums it up.
“He’s improving run to run. The blinkers were off today and he relaxed beautiful in very hard conditions … travelled through it … and my God, the will he has to win is unbelievable.”
The next chapter of what is fast becoming a best seller awaits.
