Peter Moody won the 2009 Blue Diamond Stakes with Reward For Effort and the 2011 Blue Diamond is in his sights with brilliant colt Golden Archer.  Moody’s latest star kept his unbeaten record intact with another convincing victory in the Sportingbet Plate (1000m) at Caulfield on Sunday.  

Golden Archer (2c Rock Of Gibraltar – Viennetta by Pins) won on debut at Flemington and followed up with a pleasing result at his home track.  “There was no value trying to gap them or do anything too difficult,” Moody said.  “He is still having a look around and might appreciate head gear when we get to the better races.”

Moody said Golden Archer was the stable’s best juvenile to surface so far this season although he has several unraced youngsters ready to debut.  “He will have 10 days off and will resume the Blue Diamond Preview or Prelude before the Final in February.”

His sire Rock Of Gibraltar should have further follow-ups to Golden Archer this season.  He helped Coolmore weather the 2007 E.I. crisis by covering 193 mares in the Hunter Valley.

Rock Of Gibraltar has sired 38 winners of 44 races in Australia so far this season at a 33% strike-rate.  There are no stakes winners among that total but he does have two black-type winners in South Africa this season.

The Mike De Kock trained filly Gibraltar Blue (Ire) was a four length Listed winner of the Gardenia Handicap in November and her stablemate Perana (Aus) produced a sensational performance to win the G2 Victory Moon Stakes at Turffontein.

Golden Archer is from the G2 Ellerslie winner Viennetta and was an $80,000 buy at the 2010 Inglis Easter yearling sale from Sefton Park.  

Moody also trains his unraced 3yo half-sister La Praline (Anabaa) for owner-breeder Kevin Taylor.  Viennetta has a yearling filly by More Than Ready and she has been nominated for the 2011 Inglis Easter yearling sale by Sefton Park.