Latest news with #RobArchibald
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
A Rosehill treble by Braith Nock hits a milestone and boosts dual premiership aspirations for the star apprentice
Star apprentice Braith Nock remains on target to claim two coveted premierships after his first city treble gave him a century of wins for the season at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Nock combined with the Annabel and Rob Archibald stable to win on Don't Forget Jack in the Racing and Sports Handicap (1400m) and Mickey's Medal in the Ranvet Handicap (1500m). This complemented an earlier win on the Matthew Dale -trained Super Norwest in the TAB Highway (1400m). Nock's treble took him to 33 metropolitan winners and 98 on NSW tracks. He's also ridden two Queensland winners ensuring the apprentice can 'raise the bat' for 100 winners for the season for the first time in his career. With about six weeks of the season remaining, Nock is in the box seat to claim the Sydney apprentices title as he now has a nine-win buffer over nearest rival Molly Bourke. Nock's breakout season also has him second in the NSW premiership, just two behind Ash Morgan. 'It's in reach, definitely,'' Nock said of the NSW premiership. 'I've got a week's suspension coming up soon (he is back next Saturday) which gives that away a bit. 'Ash is getting a few good opportunities so it's going to be hard to run him down. 'But the apprentices title is looking good. We will try to keep the momentum rolling into next Saturday.' Don't Forget Jack ($6.50), trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, finished strongly to run down early leader Tasoraay ($3.70) to win by a long neck with Hell To Pay ($3.20 favourite) nearly a length away third. Nock said the genuine race tempo set by Tasoraay suited Don't Forget Jack. Don't Forget Jack gets back to form with the perfect run at Rosehill! ðŸ'� @NockBraith | @ANeashamRacing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 • Portelli's rollercoaster: Filly emerges after Kimochi retirement 'He was very comfortable where we were, just flowing,'' he said. 'We were able to get out and he was a little bit green still, when you let him go he gets a bit wobbly. 'I thought he was tough late. He felt like he was waiting for something once he got there but once I really grabbed him a bit more, he gave.' Don't Forget Jack improved his record to four wins from just eight starts and bounced back from an indifferent run at Rosehill two weeks ago. 'Just nothing went right last start,'' Megan O'Leary said. 'It was obviously his first start here (Rosehill) and he got a bit worked up before the race. 'It was great to see him handle it a bit better today and get back to winning ways.'' O'Leary praised Nock for what she described as a 'brilliant ride'. 'Obviously it was a bit of a sticky draw and there was a bit more early pace than it looked on paper,'' she said. 'But it was a nice, patient ride by Braith and the horse came on well. He enjoys softer tracks and as long as the rain stays around he will be winning again.'' Nock then combined with the Archibald stable again to partner the consistent Mickey's Medal ($3.10 favourite) to a determined half length win over a very game Northern Eyes ($10) with Little Cointreau ($3.90) one-and-quarter lengths away third. ðŸ�… Mickey's Medal gets more gold, storming home to win at Rosehill for @ANeashamRacing! @NockBraith gets a treble halfway through the card! ðŸ'Œ â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 • 'Would have been a Straddie force': Pier wins consolation in style It was almost a case of 'rinse and repeat' for Nock who timed his finishing run to perfection on Mickey's Medal, just as he did on stablemate Don't Forget Jack. 'He was really good. It was quite a good early tempo and he really came under me mid-race,'' Nock said. 'I didn't want to get too close to the leaders' heels, I wanted the option to angle out and get to the outside. 'I had to go for him a little earlier than I would have liked but he was quite tough. I think he thinks about it a bit when he gets there but I just kept at him and he kept going.' Nock and Mickey's Medal are both on a form surge this winter. 'It was another brilliant ride by Braith and Mickey's Medal really put the second horse away,'' O'Leary said. 'The horse is also in the most brilliant form at the minute, he is doing so well at this distance so why should we stop now.'' Sky Thoroughbred Central's Corey Brown then interviewed Nock after Mickey's Medal's win and asked the young apprentice how he was coping with riding favourites at a Sydney Saturday meeting. 'It's all good – the pressure, that's what you live for,'' Nock said.
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Annabel and Rob Archibald have hot hand in 2025 Winter Cup at Rosehill Gardens
Don Diego De Vega leads the 'Archibald Army' which is attacking the Listed $200,000 Winter Cup (2400m) in numbers at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday Trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald are saddling up six of the 14 runners in the feature staying contest – Don Diego De Vega, Mormona, Shahzad, Hopeful, Sir Chartwell and Double Cherry. 'I don't know if we have ever had six runners in a race before,'' Rob Archibald said. 'But if they all run to their best they are capable of being competitive.'' Archibald said TAB Fixed Odds price assessors had 'got it right' with Don Diego De Vega on the second line of betting at $3.80 and clear stable pick over Mormona ($19), Shahzad ($19), Double Cherry ($23), Hopeful ($31) and Sir Chartwell ($41). Don Diego De Vega, raced by Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock, resumed with a very good fourth to Touristic in the Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m) at Rosehill two weeks ago and has been improved by the run, according to Archibald. 'His first-up run was good and he seems to have come through it well,'' Archibald said. 'He should appreciate going to 2400m and he is the best of our Cup runners.'' Mormona (seventh), Shahzad (ninth), Double Cherry (12th) and Sir Chartwell (13th) also came out of the Lord Mayor's Cup with Archibald conceding they needed to improve to be in the finish of the Winter Cup. 'It was too short for Mormona the other day, he's a French horse that will get out over two miles,'' Archibald said. 'But I thought he was good last start and will appreciate getting out to 2400m as he's a natural stayer. 'Shahzad was good winning the Gold Coast but he disappointed last start where we might have ridden him too close. 'We will ride him more quietly and hopefully he will finish off better than he did last start.'' See the sights! Touristic wins the Listed Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill, and that's a double to Andy Adkins today! 🙌 ðŸ�† @SnowdenRacing1 | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 31, 2025 • Rosehill Turf Talk: Code cracked for punters on Saturday Archibald said Double Cherry could mix his form but showed two starts ago, when a close second to Campaldino at Kensington over 2400m, that he could stay while Sir Chartwell struggled at his Australian debut. 'Double Cherry needs the right run but on his day I would like to think he can run a good race,'' he said. 'Sir Chartwell is a work in progress but he looks like a nice horse in the making. He has taken good improvement from that run.'' Hopeful didn't come out of the Lord Mayor's Cup but goes into the Rosehill race after finishing fifth to Glory Daze and Winter Cup favourite Bear On The Loose ($3.60) at Randwick three weeks ago. 'Although Hopeful has been a frustrating horse, on his day he can run very well but he has to find form,'' Archibald said. Glory Daze powers home to win at Randwick for @cmaherracing at big odds! ðŸ'° — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 • The Archibald stable also strong chances in some of the support races including Mickey's Medal ($4.60 favourite) in the Ranvet Handicap (1500m), Cormac T ($7) for the TAB Handicap (2000m) and Don't Forget Jack ($11) in the Racing And Sports Handicap (1400m). 'Mickey's Medal was excellent last start when he was three-wide with no cover but still finished off particularly well to win, and Cormac T has been racing very consistently all preparation,'' Archibald said. 'There is no reason they both can't run well again, they have found nice races. 'Don't Forget Jack was a bit below last start but I'm confident he can turn his form around. He has drawn a bit 'sticky' in nine so he will needs some luck but I feel he is a nice horse.'' At Eagle Farm on Saturday, the Archibalds have some strong big-race chances including Bosustow in the Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m). Bosustow won the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas and Gold Coast Guineas before his sixth in the Fred Best Classic but Archibald is anticipating a better showing in the Stradbroke. Bosustow loves racing at @GCTurfClub! He dominates the Gold Coast Guineas for @ANeashamRacing ðŸ'° — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 • 'No doubt he was a bit below expectations last start but he had about a month between runs so hopefully with that run under his belt, he can get back to where he was,'' he said. 'He gets in with a nice weight (51.5kg) and is a talented colt. On his day he is right up to them.'' The Archibald-trained Mortal Halo is still a maiden but finds himself at Group 1 level in the $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m). 'We are throwing him in the deep end a bit but he's fit and ready to go,'' he said. 'His last run was good and we felt he deserves his chance but we are aware it is a bit of an ask.'' Archibald has more reason to be upbeat about the chances of proven topliners Fawkner Park and Bois D'Argent in the Group 2 $1.2 million The Q22 (2200m). Annabel Archibald (formerly Neasham) is chasing her third Q22 win in four years after successes with Zaaki (20210, Numerian (2022) and Fawkner Park (2024). The latter is back defending his title and is the $2.25 favourite. Fawkner Park wins the Q22 in style! @BrisRacingClub @G1TySchil @ANeashamRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024 'Fawkner Park has been running well behind Antino (second placings in the Hollindale Stakes and Doomben Cup) so he gets his chance on Saturday. He had a nice draw and the race sets up well,'' Archibald said. 'Bois D'Argent struggles with his consistency but he's always racing at the top level. He's at his best when he can get forward without too much pressure so if he gets the right run he won't be far away.''
News.com.au
10-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Jeff Lloyd will be trackside to watch son Zac Llloyd's bid for back-to-back Stradbroke Handicap wins
Legendary jockey Jeff Lloyd hasn't been to the races in Queensland since his son Zac won his first Group 1 in last year's Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm. But he and wife Nicola will be there with bells on this Saturday when Zac aims to become the first jockey to win back-to-back Stradbroke crowns since Jim Cassidy on Rough Habit in 1992. The Lloyds will be hoping history repeats itself, and Jeff isn't willing to tempt fate by staying away from Queensland's premier racetrack. Zac Lloyd will ride the Annabel and Rob Archibald -trained colt Bosustow in Queensland's greatest race over 1400m this weekend. 'Yeah I'll definitely be back,' Jeff Lloyd said shortly after son Zac had jumped on the colt for the first time at trackwork early on Tuesday morning. 'I haven't been back since last year. I don't go to the races any more. 'I might have gone once in Sydney when I went down to visit Zac. 'I much prefer to stay at home. I just feel like you see more on TV and you can sit and do your own thing.' The winner of 15 Group 1s all over the world before his retirement as a jockey in 2019, Jeff Lloyd now manages his sons Zac, who rides mainly in Sydney, and Gold Coast-based Jaden. Zac Lloyd said he phoned Rosemont Stud boss Anthony Mithen straight after Bosustow's six-length romp in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) last month to request the Stradbroke ride and he was booked the next day. Bosustow was plain in the rescheduled Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1350m) last Wednesday when finishing sixth as winner Spicy Martini jagged a golden ticket into the Stradbroke. But Zac Lloyd isn't concerned, saying he has full faith in the Archibalds to have the colt peaking at exactly the right time. 'I was booked in early because I was very confident that he's the right horse for the Stradbroke,' said Lloyd, who will ride Bosustow at 51.5kg in the $3m Stradbroke. 'Obviously his Fred Best run was a bit below-par but good trainers don't peak their horses the start before. 'He's a pleasure to ride. He's still a colt so he holds a lot of value. 'If he can win a Group 1 then that will just boost his stallion potential. 'If he can get up on Saturday it'll be massive for myself, Annabel and Rob and his owners.' Lloyd still has fond memories of his maiden Group 1 victory on the Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica last year at $16, especially with his parents watching on. 'The Stradbroke is Queensland's premier race so to win it once was good, but twice will be better,' he said on a cold Brisbane morning on Tuesday. 'It was a special day that. I had my parents on track and they don't normally go to the races. 'It's a day I won't forget and definitely the top win of my career so far. To get the opportunity to do it again is pretty special.'
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
The curious case of the Stradbroke Handicap betting market
It's a Stradbroke Handicap betting market like few have ever seen. With just over a week to go before Queensland's most prestigious race, there is only one horse in single figures in betting in the TAB fixed odds market. After his dominant win in the Group 3 BRC Sprint, War Machine was promoted to $5 Stradbroke Handicap favouritism as the famed Lindsay Park dynasty tries to win its first Stradbroke. Since then, without even racing, War Machine has been slashed even further and is now a pronounced $3 Stradbroke favourite. It's not just the fact that punters have continued to warm to War Machine, but there are other factors at play. Benedetta, a one-time Stradbroke fancy, will now not contest the race and will only run in Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup. Other potential Stradbroke contenders have either fallen by the wayside or been disappointing. Three-year-old colt Bosustow was considered a strong Stradbroke chance but then failed to flatter in Wednesday's rescheduled Fred Best Classic where he appeared to have every chance but could only finish sixth as the $2.45 favourite. Bosustow has now blown out to be a $21 Stradbroke chance but co-trainer Rob Archibald confirmed the colt would tackle the race and said last year's Stradbroke winning jockey Zac Lloyd had been booked to ride. Others, such as Rothfire, are in doubt. Giga Kick, weighted with 58.5kg in the Stradbroke, almost certainly wouldn't back up after racing in Saturday's Kingsford Smith Cup. While Private Eye will attack the Stradbroke as a $15 chance, he will avoid the Kingsford Smith. It would mean he would have to snap decades of Stradbroke tradition and land the race first-up. Could Chris Waller pull a rabbit out of a hat and race boom three-year-old Angel Capital in the Stradbroke first-up? Angel Capital sits 26th in the order of entry but with the attrition rate above him he would be close to being assured a Stradbroke berth if Waller wanted to pull the trigger. It would be almost unprecedented for a three-year-old to run first-up in a Stradbroke, the Yulong trained youngster is currently a $21 chance. There still remains a lot to play out, key decisions to be made and some things could change after some races at Eagle Farm on Saturday. But only two things seem sure in the 2025 Stradbroke and that is there will be two fairytale stories. And there is another amazing story playing out, with Toby Edmonds securing one-time $8,000 yearling filly Spicy Martini a Stradbroke start after an emotional triumph in the Fred Best Classic at Doomben on Wednesday. 'She has pulled up great,' Edmonds said on Thursday.
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘The horse meant a lot to him': Bosustow, named after late footy legend Peter Bosustow, on hunt for Group 1 glory
Shelley Bosustow was doing the ironing when she heard a loud, piercing scream. Her husband, legendary former Australian Rules footballer Peter Bosustow, was years into a devastating cancer battle so she quickly raced to his side. 'One day I was ironing and all of a sudden he was absolutely screaming,' Shelley Bosustow told Racenet. 'I thought he was having a heart attack or a stroke. 'But it turned out he was cheering the horse home, the horse named after him, and he was jumping up and down like a lunatic. 'Peter had always been a mad racing man, right from when I first met him, he used to go to the trots a lot. • 'The horse (Bosustow) meant a lot to him every time it raced, in the final stages of his life. 'He was so excited every time it raced and he was always so keen to watch it. 'He loved racing, even right to the end he got sent tips from (Australian Rules legends) Stephen Kernahan and Dougie Hawkins.' Bosustow, a three-year-old colt trained by Rob and Annabel Archibald, races in Saturday's Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm where he is an $8.50 chance. After bolting to victory by six lengths in the Gold Coast Guineas last start, Bosustow is also one of the top betting picks for next month's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, Queensland's most prestigious race. The young horse is honouring Peter 'Buzz' Bosustow, the electrifying West Australian who won two VFL premierships with the Carlton Blues in the 1980s. • 'I slept in the back of a car': How Joliestar's owner started from nothing Tragically, Peter Bosustow passed away in April after a long and gruelling cancer fight. Not long afterwards, Shelley Bosustow felt the horse with the same name had help from above when it won the Gold Coast Guineas by as far as you could kick your hat. 'When it raced the other day, it bolted away, I am sure that Peter was riding the horse home from up above,' Shelley Bosustow said. 'He would have loved that race when it won on the Gold Coast, I sat and watched it and I just burst into tears. 'Anthony Mithen and his (business) partners name horses after former Aussie Rules footballers and one of our kids told Peter that there had been a horse named after him. 'Months later, Peter reached out to Anthony Mithen and said he was thrilled to hear about it. 'And he just kept following the horse and getting updates.' Bosustow loves racing at @GCTurfClub! He dominates the Gold Coast Guineas for @ANeashamRacing ðŸ'° — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 10, 2025 * Hulbert has Melbourne Cup dream for ex-Maher import Mithen and his Rosemont Alliance stretched to $900,000 to purchase Bosustow as a yearling and the colt has already won more than $2m and established himself as one of Australia's most exciting young horses. The original plan was for him to race in Saturday's Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm, a three-year-old race which offers the winner a golden ticket into next month's Stradbroke. But with Bosustow dominating his opposition last start – and virtually guaranteed of a Stradbroke start – connections raised their sights and will set the colt loose on Saturday's Group 1. Shelley Bosustow will be watching on TV from her home in Mandurah, WA, and remembering her late, great husband. • Callow to miss Derby after jockey altercation 'We knew the cancer was going to eventually get Pete, but it is always a shock when it happens,' she said. 'We are an extremely close family and his kids miss him terribly. 'Peter was sick for almost four years, it was rectal cancer but by the time they found it, it had spread to his liver. 'He stopped chemo last November for his own sake, because he had 61 rounds of it, seven hours at a time. 'And then he had heaps of radiation and all the other stuff you could possibly have. 'He came down with jaundice in March. 'One Sunday morning, he was yellow. 'I got him straight to hospital and they put drains and stents in his liver, but a few weeks later he passed away. 'His liver basically just gave up on him.' The racing business can be a cutthroat one, but it can also be deeply emotional and incredibly personal. If Bosustow races up to them to fight out the finish on Saturday, the best bet of the day is there will be a late, great footballer giving it an extra urge from up above.
