2025 McNeil Stakes on the radar for impressive Duke Atreides

A well-timed switch to Melbourne conditions has paid dividends for Duke Atreides, who shed his maiden tag at Sandown in the Quayclean Plate (1200m) on Wednesday.

Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, the colt relished the upgrade from a soft 5 to a good 4 track, cruising to victory by 1-¾ lengths under jockey Ethan Brown. Algorithmic ($2.50) chased gamely in second, with Fastosa ($3.50) third another three-quarters of a length away.

“Ethan says he’s got quite a bit of quality and will stretch out in trip,” said Archibald, who is eyeing the H D F McNeil Stakes as a potential next step.

“He’s a colt and he’s going to have to keep progressing, which I think he will,” she added.

The colt is a sibling to Best Of Bordeaux, runner-up in the 2022 Golden Slipper and a Group 2 winner on wet tracks, further highlighting the family’s black-type credentials.

“It was good to see him win today. He’s shown talent in his work and trials, and now was the right time to get that breakthrough,” Archibald said.

Brown, who partnered Duke Atreides for the first time in Melbourne, praised the colt’s poise.

“He travelled really well and switched off beautifully once he found the rail. He was very strong through the line,” Brown said.

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