The Annabel and Rob Archibald team will shift plans with imported runner Nellie Leylax, who is now confirmed to remain in Melbourne for Saturday’s Travis Harrison Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
Originally dual accepted for races in both Sydney and Melbourne, the gelding was also entered in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) at Randwick, but as the sixth emergency in a capacity field, a start in that race was unlikely.
Trainer Annabel Archibald had hoped to send him north, especially with the Randwick track rated a Heavy 9, which suits the horse’s preference.
“I was hoping to send him to Sydney because he absolutely loves bottomless ground, but he’s sixth emergency, so he’ll stay here,” Archibald said.
“His form has been consistent, but all his form in Europe has been on bottomless ground, so if we can get him on that sort of ground, he’s vastly superior.
“But being sixth emergency in Sydney, you can’t wait to Saturday morning to make that call as he’s stabled here.
“He’s got a light weight on Saturday and if he can roll along up on the pace, I’d like to think he’s the type of horse that will suit The Valley.”
A five-time winner in the UK before joining the Archibald stable, Nellie Leylax has put together a string of honest performances since arriving in Australia.
His latest effort was a fourth placing at Flemington on July 19 over 2000m behind Sayedaty Sadaty, who he meets again this weekend.
“He’s a horse that races up on speed,” Archibald said.
“He’s a genuine, tough, one-paced horse that we thought would be good to try The Valley with.
“I thought his run was good last start at Flemington. He was coming again on the line.
“It’s his first preparation here, having come from overseas, and he looks a nice horse.”
Joining him on the float to Moonee Valley will be stablemate I Am The Empire, who lines up in the Donnellans The Tyreman Handicap (2500m).
That runner was successful last start at Sandown on July 30, taking out a 2400m event after making all the running.
“He’s hard to catch but when he’s on song like that, he’s a nice genuine horse,” Archibald said.