INTRIGUING IMPORT EYES ARCHER
CENTRAL Queensland would seem an unlikely port of call for an Irish-bred import who raced all over Great Britain and it is also off the beaten track for owners Australian Bloodstock who famously won the Melbourne Cup.
But Australian Bloodstock were happy to support the inaugural running of $440,000 Rockhampton slot race The Archer with Ventura Ocean as part of a twopronged attack with Kris Lees stablemate Gem Song.
Ventura Ocean won’t know himself in the Queensland beef capital which could not be more far removed from the
tracks he raced on in Great Britain. Ventura Ocean made his Australian debut last year, winning two on the bounce at Eagle Farm, but hasn’t been in the winner’s stall since.
He’s not one of the top fancies in The Archer but Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett said he isn’t there just to make up the numbers.
Ventura Ocean’s task became slightly easier when Group 1 winner Streets Of Avalon, who had been the second pick in betting for The Archer, was scratched on Friday morning.
Streets Of Avalon’s trainer Shane Nichols told News Corp his galloper had to be treated for an infection he picked on the long float trip from Melbourne to Rockhampton.
“The Archer is a good concept and we didn’t see any reason not to get behind it,” Lovett, who won the 2014 Melbourne Cup with Protectionist, said.
“I think he (Ventura Ocean) will run a race in The Archer, given the right run just in behind them.”