Star apprentice Braith Nock rode the biggest winner of his emerging career when Cristal Clear took out the Group 2 Ajax Stakes.
Trainer Rob Archibald confirmed Cristal Clear will go straight to the Doncaster Mile, run over the famous Royal Randwick mile course on April 4, Day One of The Championships.
Cristal Clear has only 50kg in the Doncaster and he is exempt from ballot and penalty for his Ajax Stakes win.
“The Doncaster is our aim this preparation, we thought we might have to go through the Doncaster Prelude,” Archibald said. “But full credit to Braith (Nock) and our team at home, they’ve presented him in really good order today.
“I thought Braith rode him perfectly first-up. We said ‘just have him where he’s happy and see where he’s at’ and he was excellent.”
Cristal Clear ($5.50) held off the late charge of Robusto ($26) to score by a head with Enxuto ($3.60 favourite) a half length away third.
Archibald, who trains in partnership with his wife Annabel, was pleasantly surprised when advised they had provided Nock with his first stakes winner.
“I didn’t even know that,” Archibald said. “We’ve had a really good association with Braith and Group One Thoroughbreds who have been so loyal to us and given us some good opportunities.
“Cristal Clear has obviously come back a bit better again and he just keeps stepping up each preparation.”
Nock, Sydney’s reigning champion apprentice, was “lost for words” after winning the Group 2 Ajax Stakes.
“I’ve been knocked off in a Group 3 before but I’ve managed to get this one today so it’s really good,” Nock said.
“The Archibalds have been nothing but supportive of me, and this horse especially, we’ve been through the grades together.
“He’s just so relaxed, he’s acting like he’s had five runs in the prep. He’s just an ultimate professional.
“It feels like we’re going slow but he’s got that big stride. I think he’s just a good horse with a good attitude.”
Cristal Clear showed promise last spring winning three on end including the Dubbo Gold Cup before competitive efforts with sixth placings in the Golden Eagle and Big Dance.
But Archibald is adamant Cristal Clear has returned a better horse again this autumn and the four-year-old is now on track to join It’s Somewhat (2017), Grand Armee (2003), Vite Cheval (1984) and Tontonan (1974) as winners of the Ajax Stakes-Doncaster Mile double.
