‘He wears his heart on his sleeve’ – Cool Archie the new JJ Atkins favourite following rousing BRC Sires’ victory
Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel) shot to the head of the market for the J.J. Atkins Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) following his barnstorming victory in Saturday’s BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at a gloomy and wet Eagle Farm.
The Chris and Corey Munce-trained colt has proven to be a revelation this campaign, going from breaking his maiden at Doomben in April to landing both the Dalrello Stakes (Listed, 1000m) and Spirit Of Boom Classic (Gr 2, 1200m) at his two starts prior to Saturday.
Lining up as a $7 chance in this weekend’s $1 million Group 2 contest, the son of Newhaven Park’s first-season sire Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) continued his excellent association with English ex-pat jockey Martin Harley as he came from behind to sweep to the lead inside the final 100 metres before running out a 2.8-length winner over Farnicle (Farnan).
Call Da Vinci (Under The Louvre) finished a further length behind in third place in what turned out to be an attritional test over the 1400 metres for the juveniles.
“What an amazing run. He’s never been that far back, I think, in his career,” Corey Munce said.
“We were confident coming in today and taking the blinkers off was probably the key there. That was all due to Martin [Harley], he was spot on. He was 110 per cent right.
“He relished the wet track and 1400 [metres]. On that you have to say that he runs a mile.”
And on the prospect of Cool Archie getting the 1600-metre trip, a first date in a Group 1 awaits the youngster with the J.J. Atkins arriving on June 14 – for which his favouritism sees him sit at $5.
“I just liked the way the horse kept coming, so the mile is definitely not going to be an issue,” Munce added.
“Everybody was sceptical that it would, but on what we’ve seen today, there’s no doubt he’s improved [from] the other day in the Spirit Of Boom.”
Harley – who is most likely to once again be in the saddle for Cool Archie’s J.J. Atkins attempt – also has no query on whether the colt will get the mile after coming through this weekend’s test.
To put into context how tough conditions were in the BRC Sires’, Saturday’s Eagle Farm card was abandoned following the running of the race.
“As we knew, he wears his heart on his sleeve. He is improving run to run. He relaxed beautifully and had the will to win,” the winning rider said.
“When he got the clear running in the straight, he was happy to come to the stand side. Will he get 1600-metres? On that he will.”
Landing what was his fourth-consecutive victory, and third-straight at stakes level, Cool Archie’s record now stands at four wins from eight starts and prize-money of over $1 million.
That return looks even better for Cool Archie’s owners Whitby Bloodstock when you consider that he was purchased for $100,000 by Mick Malone Bloodstock out of Newhaven Park at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the best of five winners from six to race out of the winning Tale Of The Cat (Storm Cat) mare Aware, herself out of the three-time stakes winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Media (Gilded Time).
Newhaven Park Stud will offer a draft of 17 lots at next week’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale – including seven lots by Cool Aza Beel who will stand the 2025 season at an unchanged fee of $16,500 (inc GST).