Archaic Smile held her own among the top juveniles last season, and she will kick off an exciting spring three-year-old campaign on Wednesday at Taupo.
The daughter of Saxon Warrior earned her maiden success at start two last November, and her upward trajectory continued, winning the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) and finishing less than a length behind star filly Velocious when second in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).
A commendable fourth in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) completed her preparation, and Tony Pike, who prepares Archaic Smile out of his Cambridge base, had plenty of praise for her efforts.
“She showed early talent and is a very tough, genuine filly. We had no soundness issues with her through her two-year-old season, she just seemed to hold her condition and enjoy her racing,” he said.
“She was solid right the way through, winning at Listed level and being competitive in the top two-year-old races.
“She seems to have strengthened up nicely over her break and trialled well at Te Rapa under a quiet ride.”
Archaic Smile will line-up against a couple of familiar rivals in Velocious and Alabama Lass, who may also be on a path to the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival on September 7.
“This is the lead in to the Gold Trail Stakes, so she’s definitely not at peak fitness, but she’s drawn a nice gate (1) and all of these fillies are in a similar boat,” Pike said.
“Hopefully the track’s not too bad, I think she’ll run nicely and head through the three-year-old fillies series through the spring and should be competitive.”
Ryan Elliot will take the reins aboard Archaic Smile, while her stablemate Cannon Hill, who returns in a fresh state will be ridden by Matt Cartwright.
Cannon Hill was solid in strong company as a three-year-old, and Pike indicated the Ardrossan gelding had shown plenty of physical improvement heading into the new racing season.
“He’s a horse that has really improved from three to four, he trialled nicely at Te Rapa, and I think he’s going to be in for quite a good season,” Pike said.
“He’s drawn a wide gate (16), he’s probably going to struggle around the tight Taupo circuit, but we are wanting to get a run under his belt ahead of the Hawke’s Bay carnival.”
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