Chris Munce colt Cool Archie continues surge through the grades with victory in Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben
Chris Munce won a Cox Plate for big-time owner Max Whitby and their decades-long friendship hit another high note when exciting young colt Cool Archie scored the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic at Doomben.
Legendary former jockey Munce rode Savabeel to glory in the 2004 Cox Plate for Whitby and the two have been tight ever since.
When Munce retired from riding and turned to training in Queensland a decade ago, Whitby was one of the first owners who supported him.
The former Sydney-based owner, now living on the Gold Coast, was trackside at Doomben to watch former Irish jockey Martin Harley conjure a wonderful ride to score on Cool Archie.
Harley was first out of the gates on Cool Archie but let others go and was in a stalking position, surging to the lead near the post and holding off the challenge from runner-up Gallo Nero.
The narrow victory made it three wins on the bounce and continued Cool Archie's surge towards elite races like the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes and the Group 1 JJ Atkins.
After Saturday's 1200m win, Cool Archie firmed from $26 to $11 in Sires' Produce betting and $26 to $15 in the JJ Atkins market.
Birthday boy Munce, who trains with son Corey, was thrilled he had captured Saturday's race for Whitby.
Another winner for @munceracing, with Cool Archie getting the nose down in the Spirit Of Boom Classic! pic.twitter.com/uk6xCdxwda
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025
'Max has been a great supporter, as a jockey I won a Cox Plate and a Caulfield Guineas for him and we even won a Darwin Cup,' Munce said.
'I've had a lot of luck with Max over the years.
'Even when I first started training he sent me up a horse called First Crush, and a few other horses, to kick me off.
'And he took shares in other horses, it's great to be able to reward him with a winner like this today.
'It's on to the Sires' next and then the JJ Atkins.
'I'll have to have a chat with Martin (Harley) to see if we take the blinkers off.
'He's a really nice colt, you wouldn't think he's a colt because he's so laid-back and casual.
'He's got a heart as big as he is, which is all you can ask for.'
Whitby is known for his love of a bet and relished the win of Cool Archie, who firmed from $10 into $8.
'I think we might have a proper colt on our hands,' Whitby declared.
Harley knew Cool Archie had match fitness on his side, but insisted it was a 'pretty special' win.
'He's a horse we hold in high regard, he travelled smoothly today and luckily I couldn't get there too soon because there were horses in front of me,' Harley said.
'He wanted to go through the gap and showed a great will to win.'
Third-placed Grafterburners lost no admirers after covering more ground than the early explorers.
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Schweida eyes bigger riches for El Morzillo
Aided by a clever ride by Jason Collett, Queensland filly El Morzillo laid down a potential Group 1 winter carnival marker when she was ridden outside of her comfort zone to score at Doomben.
El Morzillo surged past the $1m prizemoney mark when she was much closer than most expected in the run, with Collett sitting pretty just behind the leaders in the QTIS 3YO Plate (1350m).
On a heavy Doomben track, El Morzillo may have had no hope had she been ridden to her normal pattern of dropping well back in the field and swooping home.
Trainer Kelly Schweida would love to get the three-year-old grey filly into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handica p or Group 1 Tatt's Tiara.
El Morzillo had a rating of 92 before Saturday's Doomben win and even with the looming ratings boost she would almost certainly need to score the Group 3 Fred Best Classic to surge into the Stradbroke field.
A brilliant Jason Collett ride sees El Morzillo come out on top in Race 3 at Doomben. @schweidaracing pic.twitter.com/XjwMwBaexB
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025
The winner of the Fred Best, at Eagle Farm on May 31, earns a golden ticket into the Stradbroke,
Regardless of the future, Saturday's win was pleasing for Schweida as he has high winter carnival hopes for the filly who won a $1m restricted sprint at Flemington in March.
She was slightly disappointing when she resumed in the Group 2 Victory Stakes, but probably had no hope to score that race considering she was last in the run and they zipped home.
The Doomben win on Saturday added to El Morzillo's impressive resume.
'Plan A was not to be too far back on the heavy track today,' Schweida said.
'She was tough, as her normal pattern is to get back and find the line.
'I'd love to get her into a Stradbroke, if we could, or a Tatt's Tiara would be a nice race for her if she is good enough.'
El Morzillo was sent out a $4.80 chance and got home over $81 roughie Ruins Of Rome and $9 prospect Cosmo Centaurus.
The Godolphin favourite, Pisces, was unplaced under James McDonald after being slow away and then trying to make ground along the inside.
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