Rejuvenated mare Archaic Smile captured her second career stakes victory when she out-finished fellow Cambridge raiders Churchillian and December to take out the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham.
The now four-year-old daughter of Saxon Warrior won the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) at the venue during her juvenile season when prepared by trainer Tony Pike, however, it was Pike who had to settle for second on this occasion with Churchillian as the winner now races out of the Hollie Wynyard stable after being transferred there early last year.
Back to her best with consecutive runner-up finishes in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) and Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) to round out her three-year-old campaign, Archaic Smile has proven a model of consistency since then, winning once and not finishing further back than fifth in seven starts as a four-year-old.
She went into Saturday’s contest as one of several well fancied runners and with her record of two wins from five starts on the course her prospects of victory appeared bright.
A 10 out of 10 ride by Masa Hashizume ended up being the key to success as he had her across to the fence ahead of midfield less than 200m after the start and from there the mare travelled sweetly within striking distance before angling into a gap one off the fence with 250m to run.
Archaic Smile went up alongside Churchillian at that point and the two mares set down to a titanic struggle which went in favour of Archaic Smile by half a length with December storming home out wide to take third.
Wynyard couldn’t hide the pride she felt for her charge when speaking about her after the race.
“She loves the big corner here (Trentham) as she is not quite as good around the tight, turning tracks,” Wynyard said.
“Every time she goes out you can’t be disappointed as she gives it everything and I knew she would get another stakes win along the way and I’m just rapt she got it today.
“I said to Masa not to get too far off them and when he got her to the fence I was thinking well that’s a 10 out of 10 effort.
“I know how tough Churchillian is to get past when she is in front, so our little girl gave it everything she had.”
Wynyard advised there were no firm plans for the mare however the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie on 18 April could be a future target.
Archaic Smile was a $55,000 purchase by owner Masa Otani out of the Woburn Farm’s Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2023 and has now won over $450,000 in prizemoney from five wins and five placings from just 23 race starts. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
