Callow claims Guineas, big day for Archibalds

By Brad Bishop (Racing & Sports)

Noel Callow recorded his biggest win in eight years when he made the most of a call-up to land the first leg of a Group 2 double for Annabel and Rob Archibald at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The 49-year-old steered Depth Of Character  to a dominant win in the $350,000 Queensland Guineas (1600m).

Forty minutes later, the recently-married Archibalds completed the dream day out when $81 chance Libertad scored a blowout win in the $300,000 Victory Stakes (1200m), which is a traditional lead-up to the Winter Carnival's Group 1 sprints.

Jamie Mott, who has established himself as a Group-race force in recent years, partly due to the support of Libertad's trainers, celebrated another feature aboard Libertad but for Callow it was the first Group 2 win since guiding Sweet Sherry to victory in the 2017 Euclase Stakes.

The most recent of his five Group 1 wins came a few weeks earlier aboard Montoya's Secret in the Vinery Stud Stakes.

Callow understood his good fortune with James McDonald out suspended and Ryan Maloney overlooking Depth Of Character, but he was happy to make the most of it after working particularly hard to late.

"I was just trying to enjoy my life, but 'the game' said to me, 'we're not going to put you on if you're going to enjoy your life', so I've been doing the hard yards," Callow said.

"I was lucky that 'J-Mac' got rubbed out in Hong Kong and Pug took another ride, I was the last one standing and got the cash."

Callow had the chance to lap up the breakthrough victory with $7 chance Depth Of Character racing to the front midway down the straight before careering away to score by 2-1/4 lengths.

Second was Churchill's Choice ($9), who finished half-a-length clear of third placegetter Beau Dazzler ($26)

"I just had to count to 10 and 15 and then let him rip away," Callow said.

It was nowhere near as straight-forward for Mott and Libertad, who survived a stern late challenge from Jedibeel ($6) to score a short-half-head win in the Victory Stakes.

Another roughie, $41 chance Golden Mile, was 1-3/4 lengths further back third.