The $10,000 Sioux Nation (USA) weanling Archo Nacho put a field of well-performed bluebloods to the sword in Saturday’s Winning Edge Presentations Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Ben Melham for Matt Laurie, Archo Nacho cruised up on the inside of the Golden Slipper third King’s Gambit before holding the finishing run of I Am Unstoppable.
Archo Nacho defeated the son of I Am Invincible by half a length with King’s Gambit, also by I Am Invincible, two and a quarter lengths back in third.
After making a winning career debut on a bottomless track at Werribee in June, Archo Nacho rounded out his 2-year-old campaign with a troubled second to Exploring over 1000m at Flemington three weeks later.
“He showed a lot right from the beginning. I only bought this bloke because I had a half-brother to him, and he showed a bit of pace and was a little bit mad, but I happened to pass this guy at the weanling sales and thought, ‘why not? Laurie revealed.
“He was a bit small. We left him in the paddock, and when we got him going, it was evident that he had a good turn of foot, and to watch what’s unfolded is a massive thrill.”
Laurie said only a late change of heart kept the gelding from being sold.
“I had him sold. I had him sold to Hong Kong, and at the last minute, Kate, my partner, and I decided to hold tight. We just thought there was more in store for this horse, and clearly there is,” the trainer said.
“He’s a family-owned horse; the kids just love him to bits; he’s named after our youngest son, so it is exciting.
The next stop for Archo Nacho is likely the Danehill Stakes before the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“We’ll have a good chat with Ben (Melham), that’s a logical path, but he is only a smaller-sided horse, but we’ll worry about that later and enjoy now.”
A $10,000 buy for Kingsbarn Bloodstock from the Rosemont Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Archo Nacho is from the lone crop of 39 foals left in Australia by Scat Daddy’s Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner Sioux Nation (USA).
He is the sixth winner from seven to race for the talented Not A Single Doubt mare Jackpot Queen.
Trained by Matthew Dale, Jackpot Queen won the Wellington Boot and races at Randwick Flemington and Caulfield in a 12-start career.
So it was no surprise when Mathew Dale ventured to the 2023 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale to purchase Jackpot Queen’s Starcraft colt for $60,000 from the draft of Willow Park Stud.
After foaling a Harry Angel (IRE) filly last spring, Jackpot Queen was covered by Deep Impact’s dual Group 1 winner, Saxon Warrior (JPN).
Archo Nacho is the 12th stakes-winner for Sioux Nation (USA), who stands at Coolmore Stud’s Castlehyde Stud, Ireland, for a fee of €17,500.
