Archedemus Gallops Them Into the Ground in Members Handicap

Mark Smith - Saturday May 11

Coming off a commanding performance in the Group III Hawkesbury Cup seven days previously, the Gwenda Markwell trained Archedemus went straight to the front and kept up a relentless gallop to win Saturday's Listed Members Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.

Sticking to the same plan that has seen the son of Lope De Vega (IRE) record seven wins from nine starts, Corey Brown set a solid gallop on Archedemus and it was left to the perennial bridesmaid Tom Melbourne to claim second place, just three-quarter of a length from the winner with the heavily backed Gem Song a short half head away third. (image Steve Hart)

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A homebred for Ross Williams' Superhorse Trust, Archedemus is now expected to take his place in next weeks Doomben Cup.

"I don't reckon he'll have any trouble backing up. He's a big, tough, robust sort of horse and he didn't have to do a lot here today," Corey Brown told AAP.

"Down the back when I got some cheap sectionals for about three furlongs I thought it was a bit dangerous sitting off me like they did.

"When I got to the 600m I just let him roll along. He got to his top right on the corner but he was going as strong on the line as he was at the top of the straight so I was really happy with the way he won."

A half-brother to the Group III-placed filly Mandylion (Nicconi), Archedemus is the best of four winners from five to race out of the Peintre Celebre mare Carolyn's Star who had been purchased by Colm Santry Bloodstock for $50,000 at the 2008 Inglis Great Southern Bloodstock Sale.

Carolyn's Star is a granddaughter of the Group 1 SAJC South Australian Derby winner Mapperley Star (Sir Tristram) who is a sister to Group 1 WRC New Zealand Oaks Stakes winner Royal Heights from the family of the champion Battle Heights.

Carolyn's Star has an unraced 2yo filly by Zoffany (IRE) named Librarian and a yearling by Adelaide.

She was covered by Flying Artie last spring having not been served in 2017.

Archedemus became the second stakes-winner on the day, after Vega One, for Lope de Vega (IRE) who shuttled to Australia for four seasons (2011-14).

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