Juddmonte Colours Salute at Flemington – Surefire Wins G3 Archer Stakes

Tara Madgwick - Saturday October 29

Imported Fastnet Rock gelding Surefire (GB) has always promised to win a stakes race in Australia and got the job done at Flemington on Saturday when scoring a determined win in the Group III VRC Archer Stakes (2500m).

Surefire wins the G3 Archer Stakes - image Grant Courtney

Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, Surefire was a short priced favourite and was strong to the line to beat 2020 Epsom Derby winner Serpentine (IRE) by a length.

Advertisement

“He travelled into it like he was going to win a bit better than he did, but in saying that he got to the front and backed off and waited for the other horses, so maybe a set of visors might help him concentrate,” said James McDonald.

Surefire races for a partnership of Waller stable clients and his breeder Juddmonte Farms in whose colours he runs. He has the overall record of six wins and three seconds from 14 starts and as a four year-old his best is still to come.

Surefire wins his first stakes race - image Grant Courtney

A half-brother to Group winner Button Down and stakes-winner Platitude, Surefire is one of seven winners from stakes-winner Modesta, a half-sister to Group I winning champions Reams of Verse and Elmaamul as well as the dam of champion mare Midday.

Surefire is the 190th stakes-winner worldwide for Coolmore's champion sire Fastnet Rock.

Advertisment

Race Result - Lexus Archer Stakes Gr3 2500m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 2:39.11
1
Surefire
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Modesta (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
Fastnet Rock
2
1.0
Serpentine
- 6g Galileo (IRE) x Remember When (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: John Allen 55
3
2.0
Crystal Pegasus
- 6g Australia (GB) x Crystal Etoile (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M Zahra 56
4
4.7
Warning
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Livia (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: D Oliver 56
5
7.7
Chapada
- 7g Bullet Train (GB) x Diamantina Dior (AUS) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: J Mott 56.5
6
7.8
Alegron
- 4g Teofilo (IRE) x Alegria (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: W Buick 59
7
11.8
True Marvel
- 7g Masked Marvel (GB) x Anecdotique (FR) (Enrique (GB))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54
More Reading...
Patience Rewarded for Ocean Park Filly
Late bloomer Autumn Glory has shown the benefit of careful handling with her emergence as a serious Classic contender.
$325,000 for Three-Quarter Brother to G1 Winner Skybird
A year ago at Flemington this Saturday, brilliant sprinter Skybird scored a dominant win in the Group I VRC Lightning Stakes and at the Inglis Classic Sale on Monday HP Thoroughbreds sold her three-quarter brother by Pierro for $325,000.
Sale Ring the Future for Legarto
After returning to her best form with a fourth Group One win in Saturday’s Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, Legarto is likely to have just one more start before being going to auction as a broodmare.
$350,000 for Justify Colt – Brother to G3 Winner Just Feelin’ Lucky
Leading international sire Justify (USA) has some lovely Australian bred yearlings being offered at sales this year and Lime Country Thoroughbreds were well rewarded when their colt from blueblood Pierro mare Phylicia sold for $350,000 at Inglis Classic on Monday.
She’s Back with a Win!
Flashy Trapeze Artist mare She’s an Artist is an eye-catcher, not just for her considerable talent, but also for her abundant bling and she was able to overcome difficulties to score a determined first up win at Caulfield on Monday.
Fastnet Rock Stayer Wins G2 Chairman’s Quality
Imported Fastnet Rock gelding Surefire (GB) carried the famous Juddmonte colours to victory in the $300,000 Group II ATC Chairman’s Quality (2600m) ploughing through the testing heavy conditions to stake a big claim for the upcoming $2million Group I Sydney Cup next week.
$540,000 Brother to Stretan Angel Tops Inglis Classic Day 2
A brother to G2 winner Stretan Angel topped Day 2 of the Classic Yearling Sale, realising a to-date sale high $540,000.
Tassie Stakes Double for Ready to Run Graduate
Karaka graduate Dad And Dave (NZ) (Time Test) added Friday’s A$150,000 Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart to his victory in last month’s A$125,000 Listed Launceston Guineas (2000m), becoming only the seventh horse to complete that Tasmanian feature double.
$540,000 Colt a New Record for Harry Angel
Harry Angel (IRE) is one of those stallions that sneaks up on you, a shuttle stallion that arrives with little fanfare, just one of many at Darley and then slowly sets about building his reputation and at Inglis Classic on Monday he achieved his best ever sale result in Australia.
Tara Talks Racing - 2YOs Are They Any Good?
This week we're talking two year-olds, four new juvenile stakes-winners last Saturday, but are any of them much good? Also Godolphin and their embarrassment of riches in the 3YO department.