Archibald partnership brings up 400 winners

Annabel and Rob Archibald brought up their 400th winner as a training partnership on Friday when Marchon broke his maiden at Canberra, the latest milestone in a rapid rise since the pair joined forces in 2024.

“It’s a really special milestone for us,” Annabel said. “To reach 400 winners so quickly as a partnership is something we’re incredibly proud of, and it’s a credit to the whole team and our owners who support us.”

Born and raised in Northamptonshire, UK, Annabel Archibald (née Neasham) developed her horsemanship from a young age before relocating to Australia in 2016. She later took charge of the Sydney arm of Ciaron Maher Racing, where she oversaw elite performers including Group 1 winners Jameka and Merchant Navy, laying the foundations for her own training career.

Rob Archibald, formerly the stable’s Racing Manager, plays an integral role in the operation and brings valuable international experience, having previously worked with Coolmore Australia.

“We’ve been fortunate to have a great group of staff and very loyal owners behind us,” Rob said. “The results we’ve been able to achieve in a relatively short space of time are a reflection of that support, and there’s plenty to look forward to.”

Since forming their partnership, the Archibald’s have made an immediate impact on the Australian training ranks, recording four Group 1 victories alongside seven Group 2s, seven Group 3s and nine Listed wins, while surpassing 400 winners overall. Those results add to Annabel’s career tally of 14 Group 1 wins and 868 winners to date.

The partnership enjoyed a standout first season with 236 winners, including three at Group 1 level, and with 163 winners already this term, the stable’s upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing.

“We feel like we’re only just getting started,” Annabel added. “There’s a lot of exciting horses in the stable and we’re looking forward to what the future holds.”