Rob Archibald eyes Siragusa rebound at Randwick
Why Siragusa acted up on the second day of The Championships is puzzling, but co-trainer Rob Archibald is eager for the horse to shake it off and steer his campaign back to success.
A $10 shot in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) on April 11, Siragusa failed to leave the stalls at the jump, throwing jockey Craig Williams, and did not compete.
"I don't know what happened. It was a bit of a head scratcher," Archibald said.
"Craig said he just jumped a bit awkward then ducked out. But he has trialled since and he was fine."
The I Am Invincible gelding kicked off his career with successive triumphs, winning by three lengths at Tamworth in January before repeating the dose at Muswellbrook in March.
Impressed by those displays, Archibald and wife Annabel, his training associate, nominated the three-year-old for stakes racing, but with that bid unsuccessful, Rob Archibald anticipates a strong showing from the horse in Saturday's The Last Post Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.
"He seems talented, albeit he's won at Tamworth and Muswellbrook," he said.
"We're learning about him all the time and we're just trying build him up to take him through his grades, but he's certainly one we like.
"He's definitely got ability, so I'm looking forward to seeing him develop.
"It was a hiccup the other day, but I'm confident he can bounce back on Saturday."
For prominent owner Gerry Harvey, who part-owns Siragusa, the yard enters lightly raced Seastraand in the same race, and OTI Racing's three-year-old Hillier might join the meeting in the Australian Flying Corps Handicap (1200m).
Having placed at Group 2 in Melbourne last preparation, Hillier ran fifth wide-drawn in Autumn Boy's Caulfield Guineas (1600m), leaving Archibald hesitant over the tough barrier for his Randwick return.
"I'm not sure. He has drawn a bit sticky," he said.
"We'll have a good look at the race and potentially wait a week. But I've been really happy with his trials. He seems to have come back in good order so I'm keen to get him started."
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