BETTER GET SET ... READY FOR THE ARCHER

By Graham Potter | Monday, April 15, 2024

The field for the $775 000 The Archer, Queensland’s richest regional race which will take place at Rockhampton on April 28, is beginning to take shape as the big race slot holders start locking in their selected runners.

The Brisbane based training partnership of Steven O’Dea and Matt Hoysted will send Better Get Set north to contest The Archer with strong credentials with the six-time winner having finished second in both the Listed Tatts Classic and the Listed $1 million QTIS Magic Millions Open in her last preparation.

The mare will go into The Archer first-up after a three-and-a-half month break from race action, but she has trialled twice during that time to keep her ticking over nicely enough.

“She will be going into it first-up, but she has got a good first-up record,” said co-trainer Matt Hoysted.

“She always goes well fresh and 1300m is probably her pet trip. The big wide Rocky track should suit. She is pretty versatile ... she can be on speed, or she can be back ... so, we thought she was the right horse for it.

“Even programming-wise, the early bit of the Brisbane carnival was going to be a little bit tricky as far as races that were really suitable for her goes, so The Archer is an ideal race for her.”

And as far as getting the slot offer was concerned.

“I think a lot of the Brisbane stables were probably getting phone calls trying to identify if you have got a horse that might be suitable for the race,” continued Hoysted.

“We had those calls and we identified Better Get Set as a horse we would be happy to take up to Rocky.”

Better Get Set will race for the Veramax slot.

Adding further lustre to the Better Get Set entry is the fact that Veramax Principal Dallas Clarke has announced that top Sydney jockey Tommy Berry will make the trip to take the ride on Better Get Set who, should she win, will take her career earnings through the $1 million mark.

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