Annabel and Rob Archibald’s progressive colt Mortal Halo books Queensland trip after gritty Rosehill win

Annabel and Rob Archibald have their sights set on the Magic Millions Guineas with Mortal Halo after the exciting colt continued his strong form with a gutsy Rosehill win.

Mortal Halo mad it two wins from three runs this campaign with his victiry at Rosehill. Picrure: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

The Magic Millions 3YO Guineas is in the sights of Annabel and Rob Archibald after their progressive colt Mortal Halo continues his emergence at Rosehill Gardens on Sunday.

The half-brother to the stable’s Group 1 winner Port Lockroy has come back a more furnished individual after contesting juvenile Group races during the Brisbane winter carnival.

“If you look at his replays as a two-year-old he had no idea where to put his legs,” Annabel Archibald said.

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“The talent was always there but it all happened too quickly for him.”

Since returning at three, Sunday’s win was Mortal Halo’s second from three starts and his latest victory came after being headed in the Vinnie @ Yarraman Park Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m).

“On paper there wasn’t a lot of pressure, and he bounced out well,” Winning rider Reece Jones said.

“I was able to take it up quite comfortably and I was able to dictate and control it.

“I was actually quite happy when (Chris) Waller’s horse (Automne Tree) rolled around, it gave us something to chase.

“He was good all the way through the line and I think he will go onto bigger and better things.

Mortal Halo pulls away late and wins well at Rosehill for @archibaldracing! 👏 pic.twitter.com/oSb5CGqzmL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 7, 2025

• Grima shows Hao it’s done at Rosehill

“He was so casual out in front and I’ve no doubt he’s a better horse with a target to aim at.”

Mortal Halo ($3.20 eq fav) defeated Automne Tree ($8) by a half-length with a nose back to The Mona Lisa ($14), trained by Paul and Martha Cave, in third.

Archibald said Mortal Halo is now likely to head to Queensland for a shot at the $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 17. The stable won the race last year with Bosustow.

“I think he has the makings of a really nice horse,” she said “He’s a horse with a massive stride.

“He’s pretty untapped I think.

He’s a Magic Millions horse so you have to head north with him.

“That win today will help his rating but we might need to win something else to get him into a race like the (Magic Millions) Guineas.”

Archibald indicated the $300,000 Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm on January 3 is the race she’s likely to use as Mortal Halo’s lead up to the Gold Coast.

Originally published as Annabel and Rob Archibald’s progressive colt Mortal Halo books Queensland trip after gritty Rosehill win