Acromantula has turned back the clock to collect his second black-type sprint for Alan and Sue Olive in the LR Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m) at Ascot.
The veteran short-course specialist revived memories of halcyon days when he flew the coop and free-wheeled to a four-length lead along the riverside on Saturday. Kept rolling in the straight by Lucy Fiore, he repelled the late challenge of Cut The Talk (Oratorio) to win by a half-length.
Acromantula (8g Written Tycoon – For Your Eyes Only by Bletchley Park) had won the LR MVRC Norman Carlyon Stakes (1000m) for Pearce Racing in August 2023 and his only other victory since then had been back at Moonee Valley with Lindsay Park’s Ben, Will & JD Hayes in October 2024.
He returned home this season and put the writing on the wall with a close-up fourth in the LR Summer Scorcher (1000m) at Ascot on New Year’s Day. “He was huge last start but it’s been a while since we’ve seen the old Acromantula,” stable rep Taylor Fitzgerald confirmed. “He jumped so well today and travelled well within himself for Lucy.”
Acromantula (Photo / Western Racepix) is a homebred for Gold Front Thoroughbreds owners Alan and Sue Olive and the latest result improved his career card to 10 wins in 44 starts for earnings over $808,000. He’s by Champion Australian Sire Witeen Tycoon and is one of seven winners from For Your Eyes Only who won 10 races topped by Listed victories in the Gimcrack Stakes, Ascot 1000 Guineas and Beaufine Stakes for Harvey Crossman’s Lima Syndicate.
The Olives outbid several Eastern States offers for For Your Eyes Only after she bowed out at Group 1 level in the 2011 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) won by Ortensia (Testa Rossa). Her Splintex yearling colt is catalogued as Lot 350 for Gold Front at the Perth Magic Millions next month and she foaled an Ingratiating colt in September.
Hoofnote: Acromantula clocked a whirlwind 62.96s to win the Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m) which was just outside the Ascot 1100m track-record of 62.56s set by Moonlight Drive (Helenus) in 2009. Moonlight Drive created that long-standing mark with a one-length victory over odds-on favourite For Your Eyes Only!
