3 minute read

$1 million on offer at Rockhampton on Sunday with The Archer.

Now in its fifth year, The Archer looks to have established itself as a quality race that is importantly attracting a good mix of talented horses, stables and riders.

This year looks arguably the strongest field assembled yet and the Timeform ratings of those at the top of the market certainly suggest so.

In four running's of The Archer, the winning Timeform rating has been 113, 108, 106 and 109 for an average of 109.

This year, there are eight horses with a peak rating of 109 or higher – 75% of the 12 horse field, including a couple of Group One winners in Here To Shock and Rothfire.

Here To Shock for the Hayes yard is rated 120 on the Timeform scale courtesy of his narrow second placing in Group 1 Canterbury Stakes this time last year, having run to 112 or better in 16 of his past 21 starts – a fine effort.

He comes here having run seventh last start at Caulfield on a fast deck in fast time giving away 6kg to the winner and that weight-adjusted rating sees him at the top of the three under the set weights and penalties conditions of The Archer.

Barrier three for Daniel Stackhouse is perfect for a horse with plenty of early speed in a race that potentially lacks an abundance of pressure – although being $1 million expect a few to chance their arm.

It wouldn't be a feature race in Queensland without the thriller from chinchilla turning up – the evergreen Rothfire resuming for Rob Heathcote, opting to skip a first up run in Brisbane and aim up at The Archer.

He's been a bit more flaky of late than a horse like Here To Shock, two bad misses in his past three starts, but the good runs around it are still very good and he does sneak in 2kg under the topweight for good measure.

At the weights, the highest last start rating actually belongs to The Inflictor, who ran to a new peak Timeform rating of 113 first up behind Mazu in the Hall Mark Stakes when beaten under a length.

Barrier one and Nash Rawiller here sees him right on their hammer and he should take plenty of beating off that rating.

Yellow Brick is the other one worth mentioning, rated 119 by Timeform and notably doing it first up over 1300m at Gold Coast in the Summer.

Second to War Machine in the Stradbroke last year is close to the best piece of form in this race, beating home Rothfire with a big run from back in the field.

He too gets a gun jockey booking with Tommy Berry aboard and he gets in very well with 56.5kg given he hasn't won above Listed company despite posting the ratings to say he's a bit better than that.

Three very sharp trials should have him ready to launch late down the long Rocky straight and he makes a lot of appeal in this year's The Archer, as does Here To Shock who gets all the map favours and is the established class.

The Archer 2026

Top Tip: #6 Yellow Brick
Also Backing: #1 Here To Shock