Mighty Ulysses can cap off massive month for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald with victory in the Festival Stakes

Expected wet conditions and a good draw have Mighty Ulysses well placed to run a big race in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill.

Mighty Ulysses is a leading contender in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Racing Photos

Mighty Ulysses can help cap off an unforgettable month for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald when the smart import targets Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Neasham and Archibald are only in their first season training in partnership but November has undoubtedly been the highlight as the pair of shared in Group 1 success twice together.

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Sunshine In Paris gave the partnership their maiden major in the Champions Sprint at Flemington while Port Lockroy scored a valuable win in last Saturday’s Railway Stakes at Ascot.

Sprinting mare Lady Laguna could give the stable a third major of the month with the sprinter set to tackle the Group 1 $1.5m Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.

Mighty Ulysses will headline the stable’s assault in their ‘home’ state where he will look to cash in on a perfect draw and potentially rain affected track.

The $1.5M G1 Swan Draught Railway Stakes was won by Port Lockroy. Congratulations to trainers Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald, jockey Clint Johnston-Porter and winning owners. pic.twitter.com/bR4bo1BssB

— Racing WA Thoroughbred (@RacingWA_Tbreds) November 23, 2024

The son of Ulysses was already one of the stable’s first stakes winner after winning the Group 3 Moonga Stakes first up this preparation before struggling to find his best last start in the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes.

Neasham and Archibald had accepted in last week’s The Gong and Cranbourne Cup with Mighty Ulysses but elected to wait another week when the gelding drew poor in both assignments.

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“It was a bit difficult with the barriers last week and hopefully a bit of rain comes because he will appreciate a bit of give in the track,” Archibald said.

“His last start at Flemington was a little bit disappointing but hopefully that was just a little bit of a flat run.

“I think he is definitely more effective with some give in the track and from a good draw on Saturday, I think he should get his chance.”

St Lawrence is the Festival Stakes favourite. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Up to 55mm of rain has been forecast in Sydney from Thursday to Saturday afternoon, increasing the possibility of wet conditions in Sydney.

Group 1 jockey Adam Hyeronimus has been tasked with piloting Mighty Ulysses, which is a $10 chance with bookies.

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A near capacity field of 18 runners was revealed for the Festival Stakes on Wednesday before the scratching of last-start winner Need Some Luck.

Little Dance winner St Lawrence remains the horse to beat as a $4.80 chance from the Joseph Pride-trained Private Eye ($6).

Private Eye will have to carry topweight of 60.5kg and has been set a task from barrier 16.

Pride has also accepted with King Of The Castle ($11) on the back-up from last week while Peter Snowden has Xidaki ($8).

Originally published as Mighty Ulysses can cap off massive month for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald with victory in the Festival Stakes