Archibald chasing historic five straight Hollindale Stakes

By Glenn Davis

Newlywed Annabel Archibald hopes to kick off her defence of last year’s Doomben Cup triumph when reigning title holder Bois D'argent and stablemate Fawkner Park clash in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Fellow stablemates Naval College and Port Lockroy are also nominated for the 1800 metre Weight for Age feature. 

Bois D'argent led all the way in last year’s Doomben Cup which gave Annabel Archibald, formerly Annabel Neasham, her second win in the Group 1 Weight for Age feature.

She also won the Doomben Cup with her imported star Zaaki in 2021.

Archibald began a training partnership with her long-time racing manager Rob Archibald last year before they married last month.

The couple got off to a flying start for this year’s Queensland Racing Carnival.

They won the Group 2 Queensland Guineas with Depth Of Character and the Group 2 Victory Stakes with Libertad at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

Bois D'argent booked another winter campaign in Queensland with a dominant all-the-way win in the Group 3 JRA Plate over 2000 metres at Randwick on April 19.

It was the eight-year-old grey’s first win since claiming last year’s Doomben Cup.

“It was a terrific win in the JRA Cup and he’s coming into form at the right time,” the team's Brisbane stable boss Todd Pollard said. 

“He’s coming up for the Doomben Cup and we’ll see after that where we go with him.”

Pollard favours last year’s Q22 winner Fawkner Park over Bois D'argent despite his last start eighth to champion galloper Via Sistina in last month’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth at Randwick.

Via Sistina had the six-year-old’s measure in his previous two starts when third in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill and fourth in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick in March.

“Fawkner Park got too far back in the Queen Elizabeth and never got into the race,” Pollard said.

“He’s been flying all preparation and is an exciting horse.

“He’s coming up here for this race, the Doomben Cup and the Q22 and should be very competitive in all three.

“We thought he was very unlucky in last year’s Doomben Cup when he finished third and the team is keen to win a Group 1 with him.”

While the Archibalds are looking at their first win as a team in the Hollindale Stakes, victory will not be new for Annabel, who is chasing a historic fifth straight win in the Gold Coast feature.

Zaaki won three straight editions of the Hollindale Stakes between 2021 and 2023 before Numerian was successful in last year’s race.

Melbourne jockey Ethan Brown will come north to ride Fawkner Park in the Hollindale Stakes while Josh Parr has landed the ride on Bois D'argent.