Annabel and Rob Archibald’s group of five contenders for the feature event at Randwick on Anzac Day might shrink to three, as the trainers plan to divide their entries between Sydney and Tamworth.
Hellsing and Formal Display have nominations for the First Australian Imperial Force Handicap (1500m) this Saturday, yet they’ve also been entered in the $200,000 Tamworth Cup (1400m) the day before, offering Big Dance qualification.
“One or two might end up in Tamworth. We’ll compare the two races,” Rob Archibald said.
Should both go to Tamworth, the Archibalds would still field three horses in the Benchmark 100 at Randwick, including high-weighted Cristal Clear stepping down in class after failing to place in the Doncaster Mile (1600m), alongside resuming Depth Of Character and Port Lockroy.
Cristal Clear took the Ajax Stakes (1500m) on debut this campaign to secure a spot in the Group 1 contest last time out, and Rob Archibald noted the four-year-old had a valid reason for his poor showing.
“The saddle slipped back the other day in the Doncaster, so it was just a write-off,” Archibald said.
“I’m confident he can bounce back.”
Depth Of Character’s most recent outing was a seventh-place finish from well back in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on the Gold Coast back in January.
The previous year’s Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) victor, he caught the eye with a fourth to Autumn Glow in the Golden Eagle (1500m) and comes into this off two trials.
Stable companion Port Lockroy effectively had no choice but to face elite fields throughout last season following his win in the 2024 Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) in Perth, now easing into benchmark level for the first occasion since at Randwick.
“Depth of Character and Port Lockroy are both getting underway,” Rob Archibald said.
“They probably both run just as starting points, and they will potentially build up to bigger targets in Brisbane.
Depth Of Character has a tricky gate (barrier 14) and he’s not a horse you want to fire up early, so he’s probably going to have to go back from draw, but no doubt he will be running on well. He’s a talented horse.
He’s had a nice break after he went over to Perth and then Queensland, although whatever he does he will improve on.”
Choosing between Randwick or Tamworth for Formal Display and Hellsing will affect the betting, with the former quoted at $4.80 in Sydney and $2.70 as the second pick up north, while Hellsing stands at $7 and $8.50 respectively.
Among the rest of their string, Cristal Clear at $8 is viewed as the prime chance, ahead of Depth Of Character ($13) and Port Lockroy ($34).
Provincial-Midway Championships Final victor Lord Of Biscay leads the wagering for both events, though trainer Kris Lees has signalled a preference for the Tamworth Cup. Check the Australian betting sites for competitive odds on the First Australian Imperial Force Handicap at Randwick.
