Trainer Rhys Archard celebrates first city win with Boltsaver at Sandown

Echuca trainer Rhys Archard finally brought up a breakthrough city win at Sandown on Wednesday after a few near misses.

Trainer Rhys Archard scored his first city with Boltsaver at Sandown on Wednesday. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Many will forget Wednesday’s Sandown meeting but Echuca trainer Rhys Archard will remember it for the rest of his life.

It was the day the former South Australian football star prepared his first city winner with mudlark Boltsaver.

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Boltsaver placed once in his first three starts on good tracks in February and March but has proven a revelation on heavy tracks this time in.

The three-year-old powered through heavy ground to break his maiden at Ballarat last month before repeating the effort in Benchmark 64 company to claim the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1200m) with jockey Jarrod Fry in the saddle.

"And Boltsaver bolted in!"

That was some turn of foot by Boltsaver to give @RhysArchard his first metropolitan winner 🔥 pic.twitter.com/A1Ju3xNPya

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 17, 2024

Archard said he had been close to his maiden city success on a few occasions before Boltsaver’s triumph.

He added bookmakers slightly dampened his early confidence in their opening markets on Wednesday’s race but Monday night’s rain boosted his hopes.

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“I got a bit excited up in the grandstands,” he said.

“I’ve come here a few times and ran second … and not beaten big distances.

“I saw the opening price, and you question yourself, whether you should be coming.

“I prayed for rain and we got that 35mm, and we were hoping that they didn’t shift it to the synthetic like everything else.”

Boltsaver bolts in at Sandown. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Archard said the fact his sister owned Boltsaver, who had been connected with his family, including his late father Daryl, who died last year, added to his first city win.

“One of my dad’s biggest owners, Fred Borg, bred him then Fred passed away and all his stock got put online,” Archard said.

“My sister bought him and gave him to my father then my father passed away last year and so I got him.

“To have my first city winner, and my sister own it … terrific.”

Originally published as Trainer Rhys Archard celebrates first city win with Boltsaver at Sandown