Top young jockey Braith Nock claimed the most significant victory of his rising career as Cristal Clear claimed the Group 2 Ajax Stakes.
Handler Rob Archibald announced that Cristal Clear will head directly into the Doncaster Mile, contested across the iconic Royal Randwick mile on April 4, marking Day One of The Championships.
Cristal Clear carries just 50kg in the Doncaster while gaining exemption from ballot and any penalty thanks to his Ajax Stakes performance.
“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.”
The $5.50 chance Cristal Clear resisted the closing bid from Robusto at $26 to prevail by a head, while the $3.60 favourite Enxuto finished a half-length further back in third.
Rob Archibald, who operates in tandem with his spouse Annabel, expressed delight upon learning they had delivered Nock his initial stakes success.
“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.”
Braith Nock, the current leading apprentice in Sydney, found himself speechless following his Group 2 Ajax Stakes conquest.
“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 displayed potential during last spring’s campaign, securing three straight wins that included the Dubbo Gold Cup, followed by solid sixth-place finishes in the Golden Eagle and Big Dance.
However, Archibald insists Cristal Clear has made further improvement this autumn, positioning the four-year-old to potentially emulate It’s Somewhat (2017), Grand Armee (2003), Vite Cheval (1984) and Tontonan (1974) by achieving the Ajax Stakes-Doncaster Mile double.
Explore the top Australian betting sites for the best Doncaster Mile markets featuring Cristal Clear.