Archie keeps it Cool in Spirit Of Boom Classic
Whitby Bloodstock’s rapidly progressive juvenile colt Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel) made it back-to-back stakes wins on Saturday when he defeated a strong-looking field of 13 rivals in the Spirit Of Boom Classic (Gr 2, 1200m) at Doomben.
Despite failing to win in his first four starts, the son of Newhaven Park’s first-season sire Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) showed plenty of promise – including a runner-up finish in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) before a close-up eighth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m).
However, since returning from a break Cool Archie has shown a rapid upturn in form.
A comfortable maiden win over 1200 metres at Doomben on April 16 was followed by a last-start success in the Dalrello Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Eagle Farm on May 3, leading into Saturday’s $300,000 Group 2.
Sent off an $8 chance for the Spirit Of Boom under Martin Harley, the Chris and Corey Munce-trained colt hit the lead inside the final 100 metres and held on well from the fast-finishing Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) colt Gallo Nero by 0.2 lengths.
Grafterburners – a colt by Graff (Star Witness) – finished a further 0.3 lengths back in third place.
Chris Munce revealed that the improving colt will be sent to the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 before a crack at next month’s JJ Atkins (Gr 1, 1600m).
“It’s onto the Sires next and then the JJ Atkins,” he said. “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.
“He surprised Martin, every time he gallops him he gives him a pat, which is how I know Martin likes a horse. He keeps stepping up and impressing Martin with his work.”
Harley, who has ridden Cool Archie in all of his six starts since his debut, is hoping to continue his association later into the campaign.
“That felt pretty special. 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. He wanted to go through the gap and showed a great will to win,” Harley said.
“He had match fitness on his side, and when he let down he was very determined which is a pretty good sign. I don’t know if he’ll run out a strong mile, but I’ll leave that to the team.”
Purchased for $100,000 by Mick Malone Bloodstock from the draft of his breeder Newhaven Park at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Cool Archie is the best of five winners to come out of winning Tale Of The Cat (Storm Cat) mare Aware (Tale Of The Cat), herself out of the three-time stakes winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Media (Gilded Time).
Cool Aza Beel is the sire of three first crop winners to date including the stakes-performed Cobra Club.