News

The Ultimate Professional

28th Aug 2011

Breednet - Mark Smith - Saturday, 27 August 2011

After three wins at Listed level last season, the ultimate professional Golden Archer notched his first Group success in Saturday's HDF McNeil Stakes (G3) over 1200 metres at Caulfield.

The Peter Moody-trained colt finished a troubled second behind the outstanding Sepoy when making his seasonal debut in the Listed Vain Stakes at Caulfield a fortnight back.

With no Sepoy's to contend with here, the 3yo son of Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) led at every call under Luke Nolen to finish one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Cross Of gold (Redoute's Choice) with Vatican (God's Own) a neck away in third.

"You would love a stable full of him,” Moody said.

"He is just a professional racehorse. He is just a tremendous horse, he is a bloody good horse too.

"He has done very little wrong throughout his career.”

"We have probably go to take him to 1400 (metres) to have a feel,” Moody said.

"Whether that is in the (Caulfield) Guineas Prelude or the old Show Day Cup (Rupert Clarke Stakes), to see if we go down the Guineas path or come back and butt heads with Sepoy again at weight-for-age.”

An $80,000 purchase from the draft of Sefton Park at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Golden Archer (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) x Viennetta (NZ) (Pins) takes his overall record to 6 wins, 1 second and 1 third from 9 starts for earnings of $408,900.

He is the second foal of the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (G2) winner Viennetta (NZ) one of the first daughters of Pins to go to stud.

Viennetta's first foal is the talented Anabaa filly La Praline who won at Caulfield in April before being sent for a spell. She made her seasonal bow two races before her half brothers Group victory. Sent out an odds on favourite she finished fourth behind Miss Bindi.

A half-sister to Group 3 winner Butterscotch (Gold Brose) from the family of Group I winners Headturner and Anacheeva, Viennetta has a 2yo filly by More Than Ready (USA) and was covered by Stratum last year after missing to Flying Spur in 2009.

After shuttling to Australia for 8 years, Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) did not return to Coolmore this season.