Cult hero The Harrovian considering The Archer tilt

By Jordan Gerrans

Cult hero The Harrovian made his name in regional Queensland and the winning machine might just be heading back up the coast later this year.

The popular galloper – Big H – is being considered to fulfill Cairns owner Tom Hedley’s slot in the exciting new concept of The Archer in Central Queensland. 

Just like the Everest, slot holders have paid up for a position in the first iteration of The Archer with nine – including Hedley - of the 12 already committed for 2022, with two more to be drawn from a ballot.

The son of Fastnet Rock has nine regional Queensland wins to his name already – eight at Cairns and one at Townsville – and would get his first look at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park on Saturday, May 7 if Hedley decides to go that way.

Modelled on the popular The Everest in Sydney, the Central Queensland Amateur Racing Club recently launched the inaugural The Archer with $440,000 on offer - with $275,000 going to the first winner.

The Archer will be the richest race in regional Queensland in 2022 and has already attracted interest from leading stables and owners from around Australia.

FNQ-based Hedley also has 2020 Stradbroke Handicap winner Tyzone on his books, with one of the two gallopers a strong chance to take his slot for the first ever The Archer.

“We are thinking of taking The Harrovian to The Archer,” Hedley said.

“My other old fella Tyzone still goes ok too.

“They both will run next week at the Sunshine Coast and then we will look at it all after that.”

The Harrovian, trained by Toby and Trent Edmonds on the Gold Coast, is again nominated for the All-Star Mile after he finished a gallant fifth behind Mugatoo in the 2021 All-Star Mile. 

The fourth edition of The All-Star Mile will return to its inaugural home at Flemington on Saturday, March 19.

Part-owner and former trainer of The Harrovian, Stephen Massingham, believes The Archer being run over 1300 metres at Weight-For-Age Handicap conditions will be perfect for the 17-time winner.

“I think he would be hard to beat in a race like that,” Massingham said.

“Tom has a slot and I imagine that one of Tom’s two good horses would be the ones to take the slot.

“The Weight-For-Age conditions should suit them.

“I think going around at Rockhampton would suit him.”

A winner of over $1 million in prize money, The Harrovian has had two runs back this preparation after his sixth-placed finish in last year's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, running top five on both occasions at Listed level.

Stable mate Tyzone resumed on the Gold Coast earlier this month after over a year on the sidelines.

The inaugural The Archer is creating plenty of interest in the Sunshine State with Eagle Farm trainer Desleigh Forster earlier this week noting she would set stable star Apache Chase for the Central Queensland event.

Fellow Stradbroke Handicap runner from last year Master Jamie is also a chance to go around in the new race, with trainer Graeme Green open to offers to set him for it.

The 2020 Country Cups Challenge Final winner, Paniagua, could also feature in The Archer, with Mareeba trainer Alex Malliff putting his feelers out about a slot recently. 

Meanwhile, the Central Queensland Amateur Racing Club recently announced a consolation race to The Archer will now be run over 1200 metres for a prize pool of $75,000 later this year.

Any emergencies declared for The Archer must have accepted for the new consolation race.

“This is a great opportunity not only to provide the emergencies for The Archer, but also to give local trainers the opportunity to race on their own doorstep for Brisbane prize money,” Chairman Bill Reid, of the Central Queensland Amateur Racing Club, said.

“We are immediately seeing the benefit that the Archer will bring to the local racing industry.”

With the addition of the new $75,000 race, the Rocky Amateurs Race Day will now be an eight race card including The Archer, The Rocky Amateur Cup and the Country Cup.