This could have been the backup strategy, yet it turned out to be a highly profitable choice for the team behind Cherry Bomshell, the standout victor in the Group 2 $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) held at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Within under 70 seconds, the filly bearing the distinctive name not only secured $580,000 for her owners but also boosted her future market worth considerably as a potential broodmare.

Annabel and Rob Archibald, the trainers, were at first let down that Cherry Bomshell failed to make the cut for the Golden Slipper last month.

Rather than that, the Archibalds aimed for the Percy Sykes Stakes, and their extended preparation bore fruit as Cherry Bomshell shone with her strong-closing triumph in the Group 2 event.

“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 had triumphed in back-to-back outings in Brisbane, though her earnings weren’t enough to gain entry into the Golden Slipper.

However, Cherry Bomshell ($17) appeared the freshest contender amid the field, surging powerfully late to claim the Percy Sykes Stakes by an expanding margin of close to a length ahead of Medicinal ($3.90 favourite), while Ciaron’s Star ($21) rallied from far back to take third, just a half-length further adrift.

“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.”

Cherry Bomshell, owned by Luke Murell and Jamie Lovett’s Australian Bloodstock, had previously succeeded in her Brisbane starts with Thompson aboard, and his familiarity with the filly was key 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.”

Rob Archibald noted that Cherry Bomshell’s success positions her nicely for the key three-year-old filly contests during spring.

Archibald views her as a perfect candidate for the four-race Princess Series targeting three-year-old fillies, featuring the 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.”

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