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News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 JJ Atkins
Local hope Cool Archie gave father/son training team Chris and Corey Munce a first Group 1 winner as partners in the $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Chris Munce, who win the race as a jockey aboard Sizzling, won his only previous Group 1 as a trainer with Palaisipan in the Tatts Tiara back in 2023 but Cool Archie victory was Corey's Group 1 win. Ridden by Martin Harley, Cool Archie stalked the speed throughout, strode to the front at the top of the straight and was never in danger of defeat down the running. Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 Cool Archie defeated the well supported Hidden Achievement with roughie Call Da Vinci claiming third. Cool Archie is a two-year-old colt by Cool Aza Beel (NZ), the win was his fifth from nine starts and took his earnings to more than $1.6 million. This is what the riders thought of their mount's performance in the JJ Atkins. 1st - COOL ARCHIE (Martin Harley) I think the horse has done most of the talking. He's taken a big step forward each run and that's what the good ones do. But to transform from a heavy (10) to a good (4) there today, which I knew he would handle, I never had any doubt in that. But what a superstar he is. 2nd - HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT (James McDonald) He's a beautiful horse who acquitted himself very well today. Just got a check out of the gates that put us two spots further back than expected. He's done a marvellous job to get as close to the winner who has had a terrific carnival. Full credit to the winner but my bloke is a horse to follow. 3rd - CALL DA VINCI (Jaden Lloyd) Terrific run. Very proud of him. Just unlucky that we drew wide. If we got a gate then we'd go close to winning. 4th - PROVIDENCE (Tommy Berry) He drew wide, we had to go back. It was a messy race, as you would expect. Lucky we had a nice three to four wide line pressing forward at the 600m which gave us a nice cart into the race. He's done a good job in his first prep. 5th - AERODROME (Regan Bayliss) No comment provided. 6th - GRAFTERBURNERS (Craig Williams) He displayed a very bad temperament pre-race. He ended going to give me a lovely run inside of the eventual winner who is a bit of a star this carnival and probably beyond. I thought my horse acquitted himself well. The question mark going out of today is whether this horse is a solid 1600-metre horse. It will be interesting to see when he comes back next time. He does have very good ability. 7th - NAVY PILOT (Ryan Maloney) Just stepped away a bit slow and couldn't muster. I wanted to be at least midfield but it was very messy. He finished off the race very well. 8th - TORQUE TO BE SURE (Mark Zahra) His racing manner don't help him. 9th - FARNICLE (Tim Clark) Ran ok. If felt the edge was off him a little bit. Maybe that run on the heavy track just took it out of him. 10th - MORTAL HALO (Zac Lloyd) Nice colt. Messy run race for him but I think he'll come back a nice three-year-old. 11th - THEE CREEK (Mark Du Plessis) He got a lovely run behind the winner. Travelled really well. I thought he was going to be competitive going in. He's probably just had enough. 12th - MEET GEORGE (Ron Stewart) Up to the mile today, I think he's probably not ready mentally and physically. Maybe next prep he'll get the mile. We learnt a lot today and he'll be a nice horse next prep. 13th - THE BEAR (Justin Stanley) He ran well. Just a wide gate and if he draws well he probably runs top ten. He tried hard. 14th - ZEBRA FINCH (Kerrin McEvoy) Got a nice trail. He travelled along nicely. Just off the bridle he didn't enjoy that ground. Nice colt in the making next prep. 15th - SWEET PRETENDER (Cejay Graham) That was a bit tough. She didn't run the mile out. She'll be better next preparation.
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Cool Archie wins the JJ Atkins for Queensland
Local hope Cool Archie gave father/son training team Chris and Corey Munce a first Group 1 winner as partners in the $1 million JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Chris Munce, who win the race as a jockey aboard Sizzling, won his only previous Group 1 as a trainer with Palaisipan in the Tatts Tiara back in 2023 but Cool Archie victory was Corey's Group 1 win. Ridden by Martin Harley, Cool Archie stalked the speed throughout, strode to the front at the top of the straight and was never in danger of defeat down the running. Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ðŸ�† @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 Cool Archie defeated the well supported Hidden Achievement with roughie Call Da Vinci claiming third. Cool Archie is a two-year-old colt by Cool Aza Beel (NZ), the win was his fifth from nine starts and took his earnings to more than $1.6 million.
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Everest winner Giga Kick poised to let fly in The The Goodwood
The Everest-winning Giga Kick has The Goodwood at his mercy with Mornington trainer Clayton Douglas delighted with his two-time Group 1 winner ahead of the $1 million sprint at Morphettville on Saturday. The brilliant sprinter, which won the 2022 The Everest, headlines a field of 13 on Saturday, and will be the star attraction on the final day of the Adelaide Racing Carnival. Years gone by has seen The Goodwood (1200m) lure stars of the turf such as Takeover Target (2009) and Black Caviar (2012) to Morphettville, yet Giga Kick, with almost $13 million in career earnings, will be the highest earning horse to ever race in Adelaide. The son of Scissor Kick enters Saturday's race first-up, six months between runs, and Douglas is confident he's ready to fly as a $2.20 favourite. 'I'm very happy with him, he obviously travelled over Wednesday,' Douglas said. 'I had a little trot and canter at Morphettville with him Thursday, and I'm very pleased with how he is. 'He had a nice gallop on the course proper at Mornington before he left, I thought he worked very well. 'Saturday's race looks like a really nice race for him, he's quite a seasoned traveller now. 'He's had three trials to get ready for this race – I'm looking forward to it.' The Goodwood appeared the ideal kick-starter for Giga Kick, his weight of 54.5kg the lightest impost the gelding has carried since the Champions Sprint in 2022. 'Obviously with the weight relief he gets, through the set weights and penalties (it appealed),' he said. 'With the weight-for-age scale he would've got 58.5kg, just because he's a horse that hasn't won for a while he's missed the penalty. 'Getting in at 54.5kg, it's a very nice weight for him, for a horse that's won an Everest, and a big track like Morphettville should suit him.' Giga Kick has two wins from five starts first-up, and will be piloted by Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Mark Zahra, who has had a brilliant Adelaide Carnival, winning the Australasian Oaks and Robert Sangster Stakes already. Giga Kick has drawn barrier 12, and Douglas is optimistic the wide gate can work in their favour. 'They've been getting away from the rail I've noticed in the last few weeks, with a bit of racing, probably from his draw as well, it might suit him,' he said. 'It looks like they've been running on down the middle, I would suspect that's where he'll be, and hopefully he can be doing that Saturday. 'He will probably get that nice run, off the speed, travelling comfortably, hopefully somewhere wide with cover, and he can be blending in from there. 'When he's on, he's been an amazing horse to watch, what he did in an Everest as a three-year-old, he won an All Aged Stakes, beating some top class horses from a wide alley, from that wide gate I don't think it should be a problem.' There will be plenty of excitement trackside when Giga Kick steps out on Saturday, a win in The Goodwood would add another chapter to what has been a journey of a lifetime for Douglas. 'It's a lot for someone like me to have a good horse like him,' Douglas said. 'He's such a well-credentialed horse, he's done so much for my career, as long as I'm ticking all the boxes and doing everything right by him I'm sure he'll keep repaying me.'
