Archanna (AUS)
3 f Snitzel – Azmiyna by Galileo
O: Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, Belford Productions Pty Ltd, W Duck Pty Ltd, Mr N A Greenhalgh, Mrs M T Greenhalgh, Magic Bloodstock Racing, Mr I Bruce, Mr J M Simmons, Ms S M Fitzgerald, Mr K H Warriner, Mr J T C Lake
B: Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd
T: Chris Waller
S: 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale V: Arrowfield Stud P: Chris Waller Racing / Guy Mulcaster, $1,300,000
W: Hyland Race Colours Maiden Plate, 1300m, April 13, Warwick Farm
When the filly now named Archanna (Snitzel) stepped into the Riverside sales ring in 2018 as Lot 32 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sales, she possessed a strong black-type pedigree from one of the Aga Khan’s premier families but her dam Azmiyna (Galileo) was yet to produce anything of note.
Her first foal, three-year-old colt Avington (Redoute’s Choice), died less than two weeks before the sale, while her Redoute’s Choice two-year-old colt had trialled three times and was a week away from his fourth and final trial before his Anzac Day debut.
While he was yet to debut, his trainer Chris Waller clearly knew of his burgeoning talent as he and bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster went to $1.3 million for his three-quarter sister, from the draft of Arrowfield Stud.
That confidence was justified just two weeks later when the filly’s year-older sibling, The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice), won handsomely on debut over 1200 metres at Randwick. By the end of his two-year-old season, he was a Group 1 winner, taking the J J Atkins (Gr 1, 1600m) at Doomben.
It was as a three-year-old that he would find his best though, winning four Group 1 races – the Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m), the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) before he was retired to Arrowfield Stud.
A year and two days after his retirement was announced, his year-younger three-quarter sister Archanna stepped out for the first time.
Market confidence was low as the filly drifted alarmingly, getting out from even-money favouritism on race morning to the fifth line of betting in the field of nine before firming into a $6 equal-third favourite late.
However, there was never any concern as Archanna proved far superior to her rivals. Racing midfield under James McDonald, she moved up willingly at the 200 metres, stretching clear in a matter of strides. She raced greenly, but she eventually reached the line three and three-quarter lengths ahead of Duenna (Sepoy) and Stolen Jade (So You Think), who shared second.
“She’s been beautifully handled up until this point. She’s been taken along slowly and she’s needed that time because I rode her in the first trial she ever had and she was quite hot,” McDonald told Sky Racing. “I think Chris realised that and took it step by step and she was perfect today.
“She’s done a really good job today. Obviously, things didn’t work out in the run, she was pretty green, but I loved her last 100 metres, it was excellent. I think she’ll be a filly that will progress over a bit further.”
Archanna looks headed for stakes company in no time at all, but a logical path to Brisbane may prove more difficult with coronavirus protocols in place.
The dam of Archanna and The Autumn Sun, Azmiyna, was unraced. However, she is a half-sister to Azamour (Night Shift), the 2005 Champion Older Horse in Europe.
Azmiyna was exported to Japan in January last year, becoming one of just 24 mares to visit Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) before his demise. She produced a filly by the Japanese superstar stallion, before visiting Siyouni (Pivotal) this year.