New training partnership after first Queensland winner

By Glenn Davis

The new training partnership of Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald is keeping a close watch on the weather but is hopeful of claiming its first Queensland winner at Ipswich on Wednesday.

Neasham won multiple Group 1s to become one of the young stars of Australian racing before deciding to join forces with Archibald in a training partnership at the start of the new season.

Archibald has been her racing manager for the past two years and was formerly an assistant trainer to Hugo Palmer and David Simcock in the United Kingdom before becoming a racing manager at Coolmore Australia.

The pair hit the ground running in its new venture with three wins in Sydney and Melbourne so far this season while its Queensland stable has had several placings but is yet produce a winner.

However, Annabel Neasham's assistant trainer in Brisbane Todd Pollard is confident of turning their fortunes around with three runners at Ipswich which is rated a Heavy 8 as of Tuesday morning. 

Diablo Bolt, a Cody Collis mount, drew perfectly in barrier two in the Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1666 metres while Addriel jumps from the outside gate 11 in the Class 3 Plate over 1100 metres.

King Potter will make his debut from barrier one in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Maiden Handicap over 1200 metres.

Diablo Bolt is dropping back in distance after winning over 1800 metres on a heavy track at the Sunshine Coast.

Diablo Bolt was a last start sixth behind the Chris Waller-trained Counter in a 2020 metre Benchmark race at Doomben on July 27.

“We’re keeping a watch on the weather with the rain around, but Diablo Bolt loves wet tracks,” Pollard said.

“He ran well in a Saturday metro race last start so he’ll appreciate the drop back in class.

“He’s our best chance but Addriel is racing well too and I like King Potter but we might have to wait with both if the track is wet.”

Addriel – a Kyle Wilson-Taylor mount – is unbeaten in three starts at Ipswich including a dominant victory on a heavy track in a 1200 metre Class 5 Handicap on July 5 before a last start fourth to Invincible Shield in a 1200 metre QTIS Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Handicap at Doomben last month.

“Addriel has won on a heavy track, but he only just got away with it at Ipswich two starts back and he’s drawn poorly,” Pollard said.

“He and King Potter are nominated for Doomben on Saturday, so we’ll probably see what the track is like before deciding if they go around at Ipswich.”