Emerging star jockey Braith Nock landed the most impressive success to date in his career aboard Cristal Clear in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes.
Cristal Clear’s trainer Rob Archibald stated the gelding will bypass other races and target the Doncaster Mile directly, over Royal Randwick’s celebrated mile on April 4, the opening day of The Championships.
Cristal Clear gets 50kg in the Doncaster Mile and benefits from ballot exemption plus no penalty due to the Ajax Stakes triumph.
“The Doncaster is our aim this preparation, we thought we might have to go through the Doncaster Prelude,” Archibald said. “But full credit to Braith (Nock) and our team at home, they’ve presented him in really good order today.
“I thought Braith rode him perfectly first-up. We said ‘just have him where he’s happy and see where he’s at’ and he was excellent.”
At odds of $5.50, Cristal Clear withstood a strong finish from $26 shot Robusto to triumph by a head, with favourite Enxuto ($3.60) trailing by half a length in third position.
Archibald, partnered with wife Annabel in training, was taken aback to hear he had supplied Nock with his first stakes victory.
“I didn’t even know that,” Archibald said. “We’ve had a really good association with Braith and Group One Thoroughbreds who have been so loyal to us and given us some good opportunities.
“Cristal Clear has obviously come back a bit better again and he just keeps stepping up each preparation.”
The title-holding Sydney apprentice Nock was overwhelmed after securing the Group 2 Ajax Stakes.
“I’ve been knocked off in a Group 3 before but I’ve managed to get this one today so it’s really good,” Nock said.
“The Archibalds have been nothing but supportive of me, and this horse especially, we’ve been through the grades together.
“He’s just so relaxed, he’s acting like he’s had five runs in the prep. He’s just an ultimate professional.
“It feels like we’re going slow but he’s got that big stride. I think he’s just a good horse with a good attitude.”
Cristal Clear built excitement last spring with three consecutive victories highlighted by the Dubbo Gold Cup win, then posted brave sixths in both the Golden Eagle and Big Dance.
That said, trainer Archibald is convinced the four-year-old has progressed even more upon his autumn return, priming him for a shot at the Ajax Stakes-Doncaster Mile double like It’s Somewhat (2017), Grand Armee (2003), Vite Cheval (1984) and Tontonan (1974).
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