Plan B turned into a golden opportunity for Cherry Bomshell’s owners and team, as the filly dominated the Group 2 $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
In just shy of 70 seconds, she banked $580,000 while elevating her broodmare potential to new heights commercially.
Trainers Rob and Annabel Archibald were bummed initially when Cherry Bomshell couldn’t secure a spot in the Golden Slipper from last month.
They pivoted to the Percy Sykes Stakes, and the decision proved masterstroke with Cherry Bomshell’s explosive closing effort securing the Group 2 prize.
“Cherry Bomshell has always been so progressive and we actually half-hoped we’d get her into a (Golden) Slipper,” Annabel Archibad said.”But we weren’t going to chase, we would’ve had to go through the Magic Night so we left it alone and came here.
“We had a chat with the Australian Bloodstock crew and they were keen with that plan. It worked out well and I’m glad we decided to fly (jockey) Ben Thompson down.”
Cherry Bomshell built a winning streak with two Brisbane victories, insufficient however for Golden Slipper qualification on prizemoney.
Yet Cherry Bomshell, at $17 odds, showed peak freshness, storming home to win the Percy Sykes Stakes by a lengthening near-length verdict over Medicinal ($3.90 favourite) and Ciaron’s Star ($21), who nabbed third half a length away after a wide trip.
“She had a tricky draw and ultimately we left it (tactics) up to Ben,” Archibald said.”We weren’t sure there was a whole lot of speed but we were just adamant we didn’t want her caught wide.
“So, Ben just bided his time and she’s just a beautiful, straight forward filly.
“She’s had a long time in between runs, it was her first time at the 1200m but she trialled very well and she’s now a very valuable Percy Stakes winner.”
Australian Bloodstock’s Luke Murell and Jamie Lovett own Cherry Bomshell, who thrived in Brisbane under Thompson, a connection that paid dividends at Randwick.
“She was a bit keen early, even going to the gates,” Thompson said.
“I had ridden her in both her wins and she was more casual, but I felt once we joined them at the course proper she was going as I wanted her to and it just panned out perfect.
“She’s a lovely filly. It’s so hard to line these horses up in the same state let alone crossing states. I just thought this was always her race.
“The Golden Slipper was a dream, well it became a dream after her second win at start three but it wasn’t to be.
“Here was always the plan. She was coming here six weeks between runs, it was calculated and she nailed it.”
Cherry Bomshell’s achievement, per Rob Archibald, readies her for spring’s top three-year-old filly showdowns.
The filly suits the Princess Series perfectly, a quartet of races for her age group: Silver Shadow Stakes, Furious Stakes, Tea Rose Stakes and Flight Stakes.
“This win will set her up well for the spring,” Rob Archibald said.
“She will go out for a well-deserved spell now and we will look at the good fillies races next season.”
Visit betting sites to find racing odds for the Percy Sykes Stakes.