Archimedes Under the Radar in HK Cup

True: the last time Archimedes (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}) faced the starter was over nine months. Also true: the last time Sheikh Mohammed’s homebred 5-year-old raced, he was beaten into second in the G2 Nakayama Kinen by Just a Way (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), who used that 1800-meter heat as a springboard to a massive victory in the G1 Dubai Duty Free S., an effort rated the best in the world in 2014. 

Archimedes, whose sire was second to the popular French filly Pride (Fr) (Peintre Celebre) in the 2006 G1 Hong Kong Cup, was extended an invitation to the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April, but connections declined, opting instead point for a late-season campaign. 

“At that time he was tired and needed a break so we decided to skip that race, so this race has been the big target for him for some time,” trained Hideyuki Fujiwara explained. “So far everything is under control.” 

Archimedes validated favoritism in the G3 Asahi Challenge Cup H. Dec. 7 and was first off a three-month rest when he came from 10th to finish 3 1/2 lengths behind Just a Way. 

Sent out over 800-meters in his final serious pre-race workout Wednesday, he stopped the clock in :51.1, but sizzled his final 400 meters in a spectacular :22.2. 

“I instructed the rider to get a feel of the turf and see how the horse performs on it,” said Fujiwara, who sent out Eishin Flash (Jpn) (King’s Best) to win the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in 2010. “That is the most important thing for [Wednesday’s] gallop. There is only one thing left that we have to clear and that is tomorrow’s draw. We need an inside draw, so all we can do now is trust that we will get some luck.” 

Archimedes is a grandson of Caress (Storm Cat), a multiple graded-stakes winning full-sister to MGSW Bernstein and GSW & GISP Country Cat, who was knocked down to John Ferguson for $3.1 million in foal to Coronado’s Quest at the 2000 Keeneland November Sale. Following her purchase, Caress went on to become the dam of GISW and top sire Sky Mesa (Pulpit), MGSW Golden Velvet (Seeking the Gold) and MGSP Monthir (Gulch). Caress’s second produce for Darley was Archeology (Seeking the Gold), who was unplaced in Europe before her export to Japan. Archimedes is her second foal. 

Those concerned about the extended absence would be soothed by the fact that Archimedes sports a first-up record of three wins and a second from five starts. Yasunari Iwata, who won the 2006 G1 Melbourne Cup and guided Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) to his back-to-back wins in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint, has a return call.