Archedemus Gallops Them Into the Ground in Members Handicap

Mark Smith - Saturday May 11

Coming off a commanding performance in the Group III Hawkesbury Cup seven days previously, the Gwenda Markwell trained Archedemus went straight to the front and kept up a relentless gallop to win Saturday's Listed Members Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.

Sticking to the same plan that has seen the son of Lope De Vega (IRE) record seven wins from nine starts, Corey Brown set a solid gallop on Archedemus and it was left to the perennial bridesmaid Tom Melbourne to claim second place, just three-quarter of a length from the winner with the heavily backed Gem Song a short half head away third. (image Steve Hart)

Advertisement

A homebred for Ross Williams' Superhorse Trust, Archedemus is now expected to take his place in next weeks Doomben Cup.

"I don't reckon he'll have any trouble backing up. He's a big, tough, robust sort of horse and he didn't have to do a lot here today," Corey Brown told AAP.

"Down the back when I got some cheap sectionals for about three furlongs I thought it was a bit dangerous sitting off me like they did.

"When I got to the 600m I just let him roll along. He got to his top right on the corner but he was going as strong on the line as he was at the top of the straight so I was really happy with the way he won."

A half-brother to the Group III-placed filly Mandylion (Nicconi), Archedemus is the best of four winners from five to race out of the Peintre Celebre mare Carolyn's Star who had been purchased by Colm Santry Bloodstock for $50,000 at the 2008 Inglis Great Southern Bloodstock Sale.

Carolyn's Star is a granddaughter of the Group 1 SAJC South Australian Derby winner Mapperley Star (Sir Tristram) who is a sister to Group 1 WRC New Zealand Oaks Stakes winner Royal Heights from the family of the champion Battle Heights.

Carolyn's Star has an unraced 2yo filly by Zoffany (IRE) named Librarian and a yearling by Adelaide.

She was covered by Flying Artie last spring having not been served in 2017.

Archedemus became the second stakes-winner on the day, after Vega One, for Lope de Vega (IRE) who shuttled to Australia for four seasons (2011-14).

Advertisment

More Reading...

Lope de Vega's Vega One Too Strong in MM Cup

Tony Gollan has his eyes firmly fixed on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap for Vega One after the four-year-old son of Lope de Vega captured Saturday’s $1 million Magic Millions Cup (RL) at the Gold Coast.

Widden Sell First Million Dollar Yearling for Anamoe

Australian Horse of the Year Anamoe is leading the first season sire averages at Magic Millions and put the issue well beyond doubt when he produced his first seven figure yearling on Friday with Widden Stud’s colt from Secret Trail fetching $1.1million.

Qatar Bloodstock's Endless Drama Wins G2 Foxbridge Plate

Fireworks were expected at Te Rapa on Saturday as several of last season’s equine stars kicked off their new spring campaigns in the Group II US Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and it was recent Group I Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) placegetter Endless Drama who delivered with a stunning victory.

$1.5Million Snitzel Colt Tops MM Book 1 Friday Finale

A stunning Snitzel colt, the first foal of former glamour racemare Vangelic, topped Day Four of the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Friday.

$900,000 for Zoustar Half-Sister to Farnan

Reigning champion sire Zoustar posted his best result at Magic Millions on Friday when the half-sister to Golden Slipper winner and exciting young sire Farnan sold for $900,000.

461 Catalogued for First Inglis Digital Sale of 2026

A beautifully bred mare with an I Am Invincible colt at foot and a young half sister to a recent G1 winner are just two of the standout entries in a large catalogue brimming with quality in the Inglis Digital January Online Sale.

$650,000 for Diatonic Filly from Snapdancer

Yulong have brought a stellar draft of horses to Magic Millions and they include first crop yearlings by high class Japanese sprinter miler Diatonic (Jpn), who was in the spotlight on Friday when his filly from Snapdancer sold for $650,000.

$625,000 In the Congo Colt to Gai and Adrian

He’s a three-quarter brother to undefeated superstar Autumn Glow and won the Group I ATC Golden Rose beating Anamoe, so it was no surprise when In the Congo made a splash at Magic Millions on Friday to deliver a colt that sold for $625,000.

$550,000 Home Affairs Filly to Redgum Racing

John McArdle has had a great run of late with flying I Am Invincible filly My Gladiola and he took a shine to another good looking filly bred for speed at Magic Millions on Friday paying $550,000 for the Home Affairs filly from Real Surreal.

Lope De Vega's Spanish Whisper Strikes in Let's Elope

Seymour Bloodstock’s Spanish Whisper has the race performance and pedigree to grace any broodmare paddock in the land but that has been put on hold as she strives for that elusive Group 1 victory.