A promising win for apprentice Braith Nock came as Cristal Clear powered home to win the Group 2 Ajax Stakes, marking his career highlight so far.
Rob Archibald, Cristal Clear’s conditioner, verified the four-year-old proceeds immediately to the Doncaster Mile, held on the prestigious Royal Randwick mile track April 4 for The Championships opener.
The Doncaster Mile sees Cristal Clear with 50kg and shielded from ballot or penalties after his Ajax Stakes conquest.
“The Doncaster is our aim this preparation, we thought we might have to go through the Doncaster Prelude,” Archibald said. “But full credit to Braith (Nock) and our team at home, they’ve presented him in really good order today.
“I thought Braith rode him perfectly first-up. We said ‘just have him where he’s happy and see where he’s at’ and he was excellent.”
Cristal Clear, the $5.50 elect, repelled the surge of Robusto ($26) to edge ahead by a head, leaving Enxuto ($3.60 favourite) to settle for third, a half-length behind.
Working with wife Annabel, Archibald received unexpected news that this was Nock’s maiden stakes win.
“I didn’t even know that,” Archibald said. “We’ve had a really good association with Braith and Group One Thoroughbreds who have been so loyal to us and given us some good opportunities.
“Cristal Clear has obviously come back a bit better again and he just keeps stepping up each preparation.”
Champion apprentice Nock of Sydney was rendered speechless by his Group 2 Ajax Stakes achievement.
“I’ve been knocked off in a Group 3 before but I’ve managed to get this one today so it’s really good,” Nock said.
“The Archibalds have been nothing but supportive of me, and this horse especially, we’ve been through the grades together.
“He’s just so relaxed, he’s acting like he’s had five runs in the prep. He’s just an ultimate professional.
“It feels like we’re going slow but he’s got that big stride. I think he’s just a good horse with a good attitude.”
Promising signs emerged for Cristal Clear last spring via three in-a-row wins encompassing the Dubbo Gold Cup, capped by respectable sixth-place runs in the Golden Eagle and Big Dance.
Archibald emphasises Cristal Clear’s enhanced form this autumn, aligning the four-year-old with past Ajax Stakes-Doncaster Mile winners It’s Somewhat (2017), Grand Armee (2003), Vite Cheval (1984) and Tontonan (1974).
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