Archibald relieved there's no Antino in Q22

By Glenn Davis

Doomben Cup winner Antino's absence from the Q22 has boosted Annabel and Rob Archibald's hopes of claiming the Group 2 feature at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Sydney training partnership will be double handed in the Q22 with reigning champion Fawkner Park and Bois D’Argent who are both likely to head to the spelling paddock after their final winter assignments.

Both imported stayers have clashed with star Queenslander Antino who proved superior in their last two meetings in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast and Group 1 Doomben Cup.

Fawkner Park ran second to Antino in both races while Bois D’Argent finished sixth in the Hollindale Stakes and fifth in the Doomben Cup.

Co-trainer Rob Archibald was reluctant to separate the pair for their Q22 clash but expected both stayers to be competitive.

“It’ll make a bit of a difference without Antino being there and they’re both going very well leading into Saturday,” Rob Archibald said.

“We’re expecting big runs again from both of them.

“Bois D’Argent won the JRA Plate before he went to Queensland for the Hollindale Stakes and Doomben Cup and Fawkner Park ran two huge races behind Antino in both races.”

Rob Archibald believes Bois D’Argent will appreciate stepping up to 2200 metres for the first time since finishing third to his stablemate Fawkner Park in last year’s Q22.

“Bois D’Argent will certainly appreciate stepping up in distance after he sat close to the speed last start when he did well to hold on for fifth,” the co-trainer said.

“He’s in good order but he’ll need a few things to go his way.

“On his day he can mix it with the best of them.”

Rob Archibald is chasing his first Q22 while Annabel Archibald has won it three times with her former star stayer Zaaki (2021), Numerian (2023) and last year with Fawkner Park.

Rob Archibald will let the dust settle after the Q22 before formulating spring plans for the pair.

“We haven’t got any plans in place for the spring just yet but they’ll both head that way after a break,” he said.

“We’ve tried Fawkner Park in Melbourne before, but he doesn’t seem to enjoy that way of going and will likely have a Sydney preparation.

“Bois D’Argent is pretty adaptable and ran fourth in the Caulfield Cup two years ago but we’ll wait until after they spell before deciding on their spring plans.”