Archman was a bit of a ‘talk’ horse early in the season and punters have certainly put some good money his way but in the four starts he's had prior to today he had no luck. Today (Saturday) the luck went his way for a change.
“With the favourite breaking, everything fell into place,” said co-trainer Jude Knight after the Somebeachsomewhere colt easily won his $10,000 maiden race.
From barrier five driver Rory Mcllwrick pushed Archman forward and when favourite Henry Hubert which ran out of barrier one broke, the lead was Mcllwrick's. From that point he dictated the pace and he held out his only challenger I'mallaboutthebase by a length and three quarters.
Archman which is owned by Judy Dillon of Ardlussa, is out of her good Camtastic mare Daisy Butler. Daisy Butler's first foal Jimbob Jac won nine races for Dillon.
Knight says he a nice horse to train and one with personality.
“He’s a bit of a character around home. We call him the circus horse. He knows how to open the electric fence gates, he’ll be in the paddock with someone else or munching away at the lucerne stack. He visits everyone and is really hard to keep in.”
That personality has made him a stable favourite with staff.
“I have hardly ever driven him to be fair. When Genevieve Crawford worked here he was her favourite and when she left Rory took over and I can’t get near him.”
Mcllwrick, since relocating to Roxburgh, has become the stable's main driver and Knight says there are advantages in having last year's Junior Driver Champion helping out.
Rory Mcllwrick, Archman, Judy Dillon and Geoff and Jude Knight – Photo Bruce Stewart
“It’s one of the benefits having Rory working for us. He helps me for a couple of hours a day so he really knows the horses. If they’ve got any little idiosyncrities, he knows.”
Knight believes Archman's got more wins ahead of him, but the stable will adopt a cautious approach.
“I think there are better and bigger things ahead for him. We’re just looking after him at this stage. He’s still green. I saw him with a 1000 metres to go and his ears were flopping and he was looking at everything and he was just cruising. It’s just so easy for him. Even today Rory hasn’t turned the stick.”
It's not the first horse the Knights have trained for Dillon. Other Dillon owned horses in their stable have been Sonia Ellen and Ardlussa Express.
Two races later the Knights were in the winning way again when Franco Rebel easily won the Sheet Metalcraft Mobile Pace.
Matty Williamson has time to grin when winning with Franco Rebel – Photo Bruce Stewart.
Driver Matty Williamson adopted the same tactics as Mcllwrick, taking the four year old McArdle gelding to the front. He won easily by three lengths.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing
Archman winning at Ascot park