Annabel and Rob Archibald have entered four fillies in the P J Bell Stakes, although one was scratched because of a poor barrier, leaving their top hope as the outsider to the lineup.
Nepo Baby at $8 odds was the second emergency when this was penned for the Group 3 dash on Saturday, requiring just another withdrawal to enter the field.
Should she gain a position, the filly would line up alongside her barnmates Kujenga ($23) and Wootton Lass ($51), as Tupukara heads to Wyong for a long-awaited maiden victory.
“I was surprised she was an emergency,” Annabel Archibald said.
“You’d think a filly that placed in the Light Fingers (Stakes) would get in. She is going great guns, and she is drawn quite well.
“She is probably the best (chance) of them.”
With limited starts, Nepo Baby has consistently hit the board in all four appearances, taking her initial pair of victories at country and provincial levels last spring prior to a podium return in benchmark company at Rosehill.
She delivered her career-best effort in the Light Fingers Stakes over 1200m, sticking close to the pace before securing third against established stars Savvy Hallie and Apocalyptic.
Wootton Lass has shown reliability in her latest two efforts in lesser company, whereas stakes-placed Kujenga returns fresh and ended last preparation with a respectable fourth in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes at 1200m.
Archibald expressed mild dissatisfaction with Kujenga’s latest workout but noted a valid reason and strong trackwork at home.
“I didn’t like her trial last week, but it was raining, and the ground was really shifty. Tom Marquand was on her and said she just lost her confidence slipping around the corner a bit,” Archibald said.
“She did a little piece (Wednesday) morning and looked great, and she gets Zac Purton on in an open race.”
The Archibalds also enter promising three-year-old gelding Pappa Blue in the Carbine Club Stakes over 1600m, opting to bypass a simpler race at Warwick Farm to contest black-type action.
Completing their runners are Cristal Clear and longshot Hellsing in the Doncaster Mile at 1600m, with the former arriving via a gritty fresh win in the Ajax Stakes over 1500m.
“You’d suggest that first-up win probably shows he has gone to another level, which he will need to here,” Archibald said.
“I’m really happy with him. He looks great and the barrier (eight) is good. Half the field has 50 kilos, or near enough, but nice light weight and he has got a lovely racing pattern up on the speed.
“He’s a real trier, so I think he will be in it for a long way.”
Team members have kept faith in Cristal Clear’s usual jockey, apprentice Braith Nock, for the Doncaster ride, with the horse at $34 and Hellsing a distant $151 in the market.
Explore the Australian betting sites for top odds in the P J Bell Stakes markets.