Grand Archway

Archway (IRE) - Mean Eyes
FOALED: 1995
 
Grand Archway notched her first Group 1 win when she won the VRC Crown Oaks in a thrilling finish from the quality filly Rose O'War, after another dogged effort in the G2 Wakeful Stakes on Derby Day. In both races she defied all other comers to win both races narrowly, particularly in the Oaks when Rose O'War looked like she would overcome her, by rallying on the inside to win by a narrow margin. She gave young New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson his first Australian Group 1 win.

Grand Archway then returned to Melbourne in the autumn, and surprised some with a brilliant finish to win the Group 1 Australian Stakes over 1200m under lights at The Valley. She repeated the success a few weeks later in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, defeating Bezeal Bay, before sustaining an injury when unplaced in the St George Stakes behind Istidaad. This forced her to miss her target, the Australian Cup, and put her behind the eight ball when she ran second, beaten some five lengths behind Sunline in the Moonee Valley Oaks, but it was nonetheless a good performance.

She then travelled to Melbourne, and ran a strapping third to the colts in the AJC Derby (after protesting unsuccessfully), and backed up a week later to record her 4th Group 1 win in the AJC Australian Oaks, becoming one of few fillies to win the VRC/AJC Oaks double. Instead of going for a spell, she is now campaigning in Adelaide, after more Group 1 success and a tilt at Horse of the Year honours.
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1998 VRC Crown Oaks
1998 VRC Crown Oaks
1998 VRC Crown Oaks
1998 VRC Crown Oaks
1999 AJC Australian Oaks