‘Ideal’ draw puts Kubrick right in The Archer mix

[Wandering Eyes]

Kubrick is set to line up in The Archer on Saturday.

Having won the inaugural Bondi Stakes in 2019, Kubrick will be aiming to repeat the dose in Rockhampton on Saturday when he tackles The Archer.

The Chris Waller-trained gelding will be partnered by Ryan Wiggins, one of the leading riders in Central and North Queensland.

Wiggins, who has enjoyed 64 winners in Queensland this season, believes that he is on the right horse to win the $440,000 feature sprint, given the form that the horse was in at the end of last campaign when winning three races from four starts in South-East Queensland, including the Listed Bernborough Stakes at Doomben.

The five-year-old son of Shooting To Win has trialled twice in Sydney in preparation for The Archer, winning at Randwick on April 4 before running second in a Warwick Farm trial on April 22, which was enough to convince slot holder Max Whitby to run the chestnut in his slot.

At Wednesday night’s barrier draw, the Waller-trained galloper came up with the inside alley, much to his rider’s delight.

“That’s probably the ideal barrier to draw,” Wiggins told HorseBetting.

“We need everything to go our way, so that’s one less thing we can tick off. We should get the run of the race from there.

“There’s a bit of speed out wide, so hopefully they cut each other up and we get the last crack at them.”

Wiggins says he and Whitby have had a close friendship for many years, which is how the booking came about, while he has also ridden once for Waller this season when saluting on Gambu.

“I’ve had one ride this season for him for a winner so far, so 100% this season,” the jockey said.

“I was originally on Olmedo. Aquis hadn’t announced it, but then last Monday they decided that the horse wasn’t right to go there, so I was on the hunt for another ride.

“I know the slot holder very well. When he was looking for a horse early on, he asked if I could ride their horse as well.

“Max and I go way back. He owned horses with Graeme Rogerson back in the day, and I used to ride a lot for Graeme – we had a really good partnership, me and Max. He’s a good guy.”

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The current clubhouse leader for the Queensland Provincial Jockeys Premiership believes Kubrick’s recent form is good enough to win The Archer, and also that the race should be run to suit.

“If it was two years ago, you wouldn’t want to ride him,” Wiggins said.

“He came up to Queensland and won three out of four last prep, so he went out in good form and that’s a good sign.

“Fingers crossed that he’s come back and he should be even better than he was last prep.”

Kubrick is currently an $8.50 chance in The Archer with online bookmakers, while Apache Chase ($2.40) is now a clear favourite following the scratching of Streets Of Avalon on Friday morning.

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