Sparkling Cool Archie career on hold… for now

What does the immediate future hold for Cool Archie?

The talented colt pulled up with an issue after trackwork on Tuesday as he prepared for his return at Eagle Farm in the Gold Edition Plate.

However, the father-son training partnership of Chris and Corey Munce have been forced to withdraw the three-year-old despite the fact he worked nicely on Tuesday morning.

Cool Archie, who has won his past five starts including the Group 1 JJ Atkins, is just not right says Munce Jnr.

“It’s a bit of a shame but his welfare is absolutely paramount,” Corey told SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.

“He just didn’t pull up 100 per cent. He went to the vet clinic yesterday (Tuesday), we got in there straight away.

“It’s certainly not life-threatening, it’s certainly not career-ending or anything like that. He’ll probably just need a little bit of time.

“It’s nothing drastic but we’re waiting on a few more results and we’ll know a bit more over the next few days.”

Munce says the stable, in conjunction with owner Max Whitby, are treating Cool Archie cautiously given his value as a colt and his glittering record of five wins from nine career starts.

“There’s obviously a lot that goes along with a colt with his record. He was flying the flag for most of the Queensland horses over the winter carnival,” Munce added.

“His record is something we need to preserve, he needs to be well placed and he needs to be 110 per cent every time he goes to the races for obvious reasons.

“We weren’t quite happy with going to the races on Saturday so we’re just going to get some more tests done.

“Look, it is certainly a tough game. With headline horses like that, until you have a horse like him you really do learn.

“I tell you, Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher and Peter Moody, all those big trainers must have big shoulders because with more horses becomes more responsibility and a higher risk of something happening.”

More information must be gathered before a call is made on Cool Archie’s immediate future.

A stud career is an option but they will certainly not be drawing the curtain on his racing days anytime soon.

“It’s too early to say. We’d all love to say winter next year but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge,” Munce said further.

“The horse’s wellbeing and safety is our absolute paramount priority. We need to make sure all the boxes are ticked before we turn on the heat.

“It (stud career) is a conversation we’ll need to have with Mr Whitby and work out a plan.

“His record is something that can never be taken away from him and he’s just a beautiful horse who has got the ability.”

Cool Archie ticked off his maiden over 1200m on a Heavy track in April before going on a devastating run which included victories in the Listed Dalrello (1000m), the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m), the Group 2 Sires’ Produce (1400m) and Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m).

The Gold Edition (1200m) will be run this Saturday at Eagle Farm.

Image from MagicMillions.com.au