Just a month ago, 10-year-old gelding Etna was lurching around the Wangaratta track to finish fourth in a BM58 with apprentice jockey Madison Lloyd in the saddle.
Then on his home track over 2100 m on September 17 the senior citizen of the Archard stable took out a BM64 over 2100 m.
But he definitely saved his best for October 7; when he staged a withering run on the rain-drenched track to grab Flag Edition in the shadow of the post – with the rest of a quality field lost somewhere in the misty rain.
And paid a whopping $25.50 for those who had faith he could deliver back-to-back wins while taking big steps through the grades.
“I wasn't too worried about his position during the race,” Archard said.
“His normal racing pattern is to sit around the middle or back of the field.
“The only concern I had was whether he was going to be able to get off the fence and give us the run we wanted.
“Dean Holland has been in the saddle for the last two races and done a terrific job.”
Archard said he was now targeting Geelong Cup day on October 21 as he hopes to enter Etna in a race over a similar distance to the one at Bendigo.
“He has been great for me since he's come to the stable,” Archard said.
“After coming over from France he probably didn't reach the heights some people were hoping for. But two years out with a tendon injury really set him back.
“He is still lightly raced (with 35 starts) so hopefully there is still a bit more to come yet.”
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