Archibald stable look to Swiss Ace Plate

By Glenn Davis

The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Manhood showed he was a class sprinter when he won the Listed Chief De Beers earlier this year.

However, Manhood’s stamina has been his undoing and that is why his record has been restricted to nine wins in 32 starts.

“He’s truly a hard horse to place,” the Neasham stable's assistant trainer at Eagle Farm Todd Pollard said. 

“He’s best suited to around 1100 metres and we can’t find too many of them.

“When he runs over 1200 metres, it just finds him out and they’re too sharp for him most times over 1000 metres."

Manhood heads to the Listed Swiss Ace Plate over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday and Pollard is hopeful the seven-year-old can make it two wins from three starts this campaign.

The son of Headwater finished a close fourth to the Tony Gollan-trained Party For Two over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm on October 18 before saluting on Melbourne Cup day in another 1000 metre Open Handicap at Eagle Farm.

“It was more of a relief to see him win last start,” Pollard said.

“It was good to finally see him win over 1000 metres that day as we thought they might be too sharp for him.

“The Swiss Ace will be his acid test as it’s a very hard race although he’s well placed at set weights.”

The husband-and-wife Archibald team have been forced into a jockey change with regular rider Jag Guthmann-Chester preferring the ride on the Liam Birchley-trained Belegato in the Swiss Ace Plate.

Jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven, who shifted base from Sydney to Brisbane several months ago, will partner Manhood for the first time.

“Heavelon rides a bit for the stable and he rides consistently and should suit Manhood,” Pollard said.

Manhood, who started his career with former Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa before his move to train in Dubai, is unlikely to head to the Group 3 George Moore over 1200 metres at Doomben on December 6.

“He’s not a Magic Millions horse and it’s highly unlikely he’ll go to the George Moore,” Pollard said.

“His next run will probably be in the (Listed) Bribie Handicap which will be his fourth run this campaign."

The Listed Bribie Handicap also will be run over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm on December 13.