Latest news with #MaxWhitby
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 JJ Atkins champion Cool Archie is so versatile that trainer Chris Munce isn't sure where he'll end up
'He's probably the best horse that I've ever trained.' Brisbane trainer Chris Munce has never doubted the immense talent of his wonder colt Cool Archie. But the newly crowned JJ Atkins champion is so versatile that Munce is about as muddled about the spring plans for his stable star as rival trainers are in devising a scheme to beat him. Cool Archie has gone to the paddock after an incredible but gruelling campaign that saw him catapult from a maiden win to Group 1 glory in the space of just two months. From the first crop of Newhaven Park-based stallion Cool Aza Beel – a Group 1-winning son of Cox Plate-winner Savabeel – Cool Archie has demonstrated his remarkable versatility in nine career starts. He's won from 1000m to 1600m, racing on and off the speed on both firm and heavy tracks, in the process taking his career prizemoney past the $1.6m mark. 'The world is his oyster because he could be anything,' said Munce, who will attend the famous Royal Ascot Carnival in England this week alongside son and co-trainer Corey Munce, plus Cool Archie's colourful owner Max Whitby. 'Is he a stayer, is he a sprinter, is he just a middle-distance horse? We don't know because we haven't got to the bottom of him.' Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 • Cool Archie has put forward a convincing case to earn this season's Champion Two-Year-Old honours, with his value as a stallion prospect skyrocketing after stamping a Group 1 on his CV. 'It doesn't get much better than this,' said Whitby, also raced Cool Archie's grandsire Savabeel. 'If he's not voted Champion Two-Year-Old of the year then I'll drop my duds. He can be anything – five straight (wins) is unbelievable. 'You show me a better two-year-old around the country. He deserves it on his merit. 'I think this bloke (Cool Archie) has got everything – he's won a maiden, black type, now Group 1 in literally his first prep so to speak. 'I'm just over the moon and so proud of him, the jockey (Martin Harley) and the Munces.' • ' There were dark days': Harley's Group 1 glory caps inspirational return Munce heaped praise on Irish jockey Harley, who has jetted off for a well-deserved break in the UK, where he will also attend Royal Ascot races this week. 'I just think he's very professional and he's a good judge,' Munce said about Harley, who has ridden Cool Archie to five successive victories this campaign. 'He assesses horses very well and their level of ability. He can give you a good guide and feedback on how they're going. 'He doesn't just steer them around for the wages, he actually takes a bit of interest in them and pride in his work. 'He enjoys giving constructive feedback to help the trainer improve the horse.' "You can mount a case he should be 2YO of the season." Cool Archie just keeps getting it done! What a star â� @munceracing @michaelmaxworth @bernadetecooper @BenWayAUS @CoreyGoodSkillz @BradJGray — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2025 • There are spring options aplenty for Cool Archie next campaign and while the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on November 1 looms as a likely target, Whitby said he and Munce had also discussed the possibility of setting the colt for the Group 1 $20m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 18. Team Hawkes -trained Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes winner Briasa already locked in.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Huge offers': Studs clamour for Cool Archie as owner Max Whitby dreams of The Everest
Cool Archie has made a compelling case for Champion Two-year-old honours and put himself into The Everest conversation after his outstanding Group 1 win in the JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm last Saturday. The Chris and Corey Munce -trained Cool Archie made it five wins in succession – four of those at stakes level – when he comfortably held off Hidden Achievement. Unlike the Horse of the Year award which is a foregone conclusion after champion mare Via Sistina 's phenomenal 2024-25 – in which she won a record-equalling seven Group 1 wins including the Cox Plate - Queen Elizabeth Stakes double – there has been no dominant two-year-old this season. In fact, there has been a different winner of each of the five Group 1 two-year-old races with Marhoona and Devil Night scoring their only stakes win in the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond respectively. Nepotism won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes and Group 3 Baillieu Handicap while Vinrock was unbeaten in three starts and became first horse since Full On Aces (1981) to win the Group 2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes and Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes double. But Cool Archie's late season surge with five consecutive wins including the Listed Dalrello Stakes, Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic, Group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes and Group 1 JJ Atkins gives him a real shot at champion two-year-old honours. 'We feel he has done enough to win that award,'' owner Max Whitby said. 'He's an outstanding colt, he's won from 1000m to 1600m, he's won dry and wet tracks – he's a beauty.'' Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 Whitby said he had already fielded 'some huge offers' from interested studs looking to buy into Cool Archie as a potential stallion prospect. But Whitby said he wasn't going to be rushed into any decisions in the short term as he left on Sunday to attend Royal Ascot in England. 'I've waited 20 years since Savabeel to race another top class colt and I've found one in his grandson, Cool Archie,'' Whitby said. 'It's incredible that Chris Munce won the Cox Plate on Savabeel (2004) for me and all these years later he's training Cool Archie. 'This colt will make a great stallion himself one day but first we have a lot to look forward to with him next season.'' "You can mount a case he should be 2YO of the season." Cool Archie just keeps getting it done! What a star â� @munceracing @michaelmaxworth @bernadetecooper @BenWayAUS @CoreyGoodSkillz @BradJGray — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2025 Whitby said Cool Archie had earned a well-deserved spell with initial plans to set the colt for the Group 1 $3 million Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on November 1. But the owner also revealed there had been initial discussions about possibly aiming Cool Archie at the Group 1 $20 million The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18. 'Chris and I have been talking about The Everest, we are open to running him there,'' Whitby said. 'Cool Archie is such an exciting horse you have to look at everything. But we will just let the dust settle for now then see what some of the slot-holders are thinking.'' Whitby shares an Everest slot with Neil Werrett and Col Madden but they have already selected the outstanding Team Hawkes -trained Briasa for the world's richest turf race. Briasa is currently on the third line of TAB Fixed Odds Everest betting at $8 behind Hong Kong sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising at $1.80 and the unbeaten Private Harry at $6.
The Australian
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Australian
Cool Archie delivers Group 1 milestones with fifth straight win in JJ Atkins
Almost 10 years after winning his last Group 1 at Royal Ascot, Irish jockey Martin Harley will head to the famous racetrack in England next week as the JJ Atkins champion after producing a peach of a ride on local hero Cool Archie at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Harley thought he had got to the front too soon but he need not have worried as he sustained the pace to secure the winner's cheque in the $1m major over 1600m for father-and-son trainers Chris and Corey Munce. Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! 'He's going home to Ireland tonight so I'm tipping he'll be pretty pissed,' colourful owner Max Whitby said about Harley at the post-race presentation. Harley, who suffered a potentially career-threatening broken neck in a sickening mid-week race fall in January 2023, will return home to Ireland on Saturday night and then visit Royal Ascot in London for their big summer carnival races. Martin won the last of his now six Group 1 victories in the 2015 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and has added majors in France, Ireland and now Australia. • What the jockeys said: 2025 JJ Atkins 'It's been almost 10 years to the day that I had my last Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot so I'll take the anniversary over here,' Harley said. 'I'm on a plane tonight going back for Royal Ascot. And I might fly that plane myself tonight after that.' The racing wheel turned full circle with Cool Archie's win, given Chris Munce had won the race as a jockey when he partnered Sizzling in 2012. The stirring victory was the first Group 1 triumph as a training team for father-and-son combination Chris and Corey Munce. Outside the winner, the run of the race was runner-up Hidden Achievement, the Chris Waller-trained, Yulong-owned colt. Hidden Achievement was slow away and rattled home from the back with James McDonald, who had been battling illness during the day, saying the colt was a hard-luck story. Hidden Achievement, wearing blinkers for the first time, was an eye-catcher and so too was third-placed Bevan Laming-trained youngster Call Da Vinci who gave young jockey Jaden Lloyd a first Group 1 placing. • 'Would have been a Straddie force': Pier wins consolation in style 'You can't do it without the horse, he wears his heart on his sleeve. ' Harley said. 'Team Munce have been massive supporters of mine and we came across a good two-year-old this year. 'I think the horse has done most of the talking. He's taken a big step forward each run and that's what the good ones do. 'But to transform from a Heavy 10 to a Good 4 there today, which I knew he would handle, I never had any doubt in that. But what a superstar he is.' Chris Munce said Harley deserved more recognition for his abilities as a jockey and should be talked about as one of the top riders in Australia. Harley celebrates with trainers Corey and Chris Munce and owner Max Whitby. Picture: Trackside Photography 'Oh, what about that? So good, so good,' a jubilant Munce said. 'I was saying before it's not just about Corey and me, it's the whole team, the staff, and I don't think Martin (Harley) has had enough recognition either, the whole way along. 'He's five from five (On Cool Archie). 'When you put a rider like Martin on, you've got so much confidence. He walked the track yesterday. He told us exactly how he was going to ride the horse. 'He knew they weren't making ground, so we had to ride him a little bit out of his comfort zone, but what a win.' Victorian trainer Danny O'Brien explained his reasons for running his colt Brave Design in the earlier Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m), which he won with ease to break his maiden status, rather than the JJ Atkins. 'I was concerned about the 1600m,' O'Brien said. 'I was happy enough to stick to the 1200m. If he ran fourth or fifth in the JJ Atkins, then you'd be kicking yourself that he could've won this race. 'He's got a good future. He ran second in the VRC Sires' to Vinrock (at Flemington in March) and ran a good race here two weeks ago (fourth in the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm). 'He's been in stakes races his whole life. He'll win a decent race. He's absolutely grown up and he's become a real racehorse.'
News.com.au
31-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Cool Archie comes from nowhere to claim stunning victory in Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes
'I've got a stallion!' They were the first words that beaming owner Max Whitby said to trainer Chris Munce as the dynamic duo teamed up again with crack colt Cool Archie, this time taking out the $1m Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at a sodden Eagle Farm. They scored the rich victory in the nick of time, with jockeys post-race voting not to continue the double-pronged Group 1 meeting due to poor visibility. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! After snatching a powerful win from the jaws of defeat, when Cool Archie was at the back and with a wall of horses in front of him, there is little doubt prominent owner Whitby has a tantalising future breeding prospect on his hands. But first things first and Cool Archie, who steamed through the saturated Eagle Farm track to score his fourth consecutive win, is the new $6 favourite for the Group 1 JJ Atkins on Stradbroke Handicap day in a fortnight. Munce and his co-trainer son Corey have been telling anyone who will listen they have a top notch youngster on their hands. Two-year-old Cool Archie could now even be powering past their own expectations. Chris Munce, who has a decades-long friendship with Whitby stretching back to when he rode Savabeel to glory in the 2004 Cox Plate for the owner, was gobsmacked by the nature of the Sires' win. A barnstorming win by Cool Archie in the G2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes, and that's four in a row to the @munceracing galloper! 🙌 @BrisRacingClub â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 The former champion jockey turned trainer thought the colt had blown his chances, being so far back in the field and having to pass so many others. 'I basically wrote him off at the half-mile to be honest, I thought he would need a miracle from where he was,' Munce said. 'I thought he was in an unwinnable position. 'When they all fanned and everything opened up, he was able to take advantage of it. 'This colt has certainly flown under the radar. 'His work on Tuesday morning was terrific, Martin (Harley) galloped him on Tuesday and couldn't have been more impressed with how he went. 'I think Martin wanted to save a bit of energy in the race today. 'He wasn't too fussed on getting in close to the rail which was probably a winning move. 'I just liked the way the horse kept coming, so the mile of the JJ Atkins is definitely not going to be an issue.' Harley also had few doubts about the 1600m of the JJ Atkins being an concern for Cool Archie. 'As we knew, he wears his heart on his sleeve,' Harley said. 'He is improving run to run. He relaxed beautifully and had the will to win.' Cool Archie was backed from $9 to $7 and beat runner-up Farnicle ($19) by almost three lengths and Call Da Vinci ($26) was third. Fifth-placed Matt Dunn colt Torque To Be Sure was a terrific run for fifth and would have finished much closer on dry track.
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
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! 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. â– â– â– â– â– 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 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.
