Hellsing, prepared by Annabel and Rob Archibald, is firing on all cylinders and produced a career highlight by taking the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) at Scone last Friday.
In his 10th appearance of a prep spanning more than half a year, Hellsing peaked perfectly, converting a recent Royal Randwick victory into Scone Cup glory amid a tight finish covering the first six by two lengths.
Featuring various unlucky runners, the race hinged on Tom Sherry’s prompt to place Hellsing beyond the leader early and safe, with the ex-Irish stayer responding gamely to defend stoutly in the drive to the line.
The Archibalds enjoyed a special home-track result, with 80 horses at their Scone base mirroring numbers at Warwick Farm.
“This is a massive thrill,” Annabel Archibald said.
“It was a long time ‘watching’ in the straight, I was willing the post (to come).”But Hellsing is a such a tough, honest horse and he has a great racing pattern where he gets up on the speed.
“He has been in work a long time but he is so very consistent.”
At $5.50, Ireland-started Hellsing repelled $10 shot Churchill’s Choice narrowly, while Archibald’s Formal Display ($4.60 favourite) was a half-length off in third.
Sherry applauded Hellsing’s battling spirit at Scone, akin to Randwick previously.
“It was a bit of a step up in grade for him today but to his credit he showed a great will to win, he was so determined to hold off the challenger, Churchill’s Choice,” Sherry said.
This triumph earns Hellsing entry to the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick, Melbourne Cup Day’s first November Tuesday.
“He deserves a little break now and then we will work back from the Big Dance – that will be his target,” Archibald said.
Building on Hawkesbury Gold Cup form, Churchill’s Choice stormed home strongly but fell agonisingly short of the Cups brace.
Formal Display from post 15 endured a rough run wide without protection, impressively clinging to third.
“I thought Formal Display he was huge,” Archibald said.
“He was four-wide with no cover the trip but he has still run home for third so he has definitely ticked the mile box.
“Depth Of Character (12th) never came off the bridle, he never got a crack at them in the straight.”
Defending champion Tavi Time with 59kg topweight and Chad Schofield aboard was blocked from the straight’s crest, passing the post untouched in sixth place.
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