She’s Archie retired from racing almost a decade ago, but the 2003 Melbourne Cup runner-up continues to endear herself to trainer Darren Weir, reports Racing Victoria. The Ballarat horseman won the $80,000 Procal Dairies Handicap with May’s Dream, a daughter of the mare who provided Weir with his maiden Group 1 success.
He has now set his sights on bigger goals with the $500,000 Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on 16 October the target for the three-year-old.
“She came along at the right time of my career,” Weir said of She’s Archie. “We’d made the move to Ballarat and spent a lot of money and then she came along which meant more horses came along. She was a great horse to us and it’s great to get one of her that looks like it’s got a bit of potential.
“It (the Guineas) has been the plan all along. The only little query with her is she’s a late foal, she’s a November foal and probably looking at her in the yard there doesn’t look a lot of her, so how far she gets into the campaign I’m not sure but I think she’ll get to the 1000 Guineas alright.”
May’s Dream, who is by New Approach, proved too classy in the 1400m event that two years ago was won by Atlantic Jewel.
She settled back in the field under Nick Hall, but edged into the race rounding the home bend and comfortably gathered in Bulbula, who dashed clear turning for home, before pulling away to score by more than a length. Suavito worked home nicely to claim third.
“There was a slight little concern whether there was going to be enough pace for her to be able to win the race, but she began a bit better than expected and Nick gave her a beautiful ride. She was really strong to the line,” Weir said.
The full result of the Procal Dairies Handicap is availablehere