The close-knit Echuca and Riverina racing family will be cheering hardest for Barmah Al on Friday at Tatura after the passing of popular trainer Daryl Archard.
The 68-year-old died on Thursday following a long battle with illness.
Archard trained more than 200 winners since 1977, including his hometown Echuca Cup in 2016, with stable favourite Leveraction, who was also successful in the Gunbower and Corowa cups.
He won the 1995 Swan Hill and Benalla Cups with Section, and the 2018 Marong and St Arnaud Cups with Blue Jangles.
Vandelle delivered Archard his last winner, on April 22, at Kyneton with Tom Prebble in the saddle.
Archard is survived by wife Debbie, co-trainer Rhys and daughter Bo.
Fellow Echuca trainer Donna Gaskin, who shared a birthday with Archard, paid tribute to a “great horseman”.
“He’s had a lot of winners over the years, always was a great horseman,” Gaskin said.
“He always seemed to come up with a fairly special horse every now and then.”
Gaskin and Archard shared an annual birthday rivalry.
“It was always a little thing with him and I to see who could get the first birthday wish out to each other every year,” Gaskin said.
“This year he didn’t get to me first, he was too sick, but the last couple of years he got me pretty early.
“He’s always been a good mate of ours, same with Rhys, Debbie and Bo, we help each other when we go to the races.”
Barmah Al races at Tatura on Friday. Picture: Brendan McCarthy-Racing Photos
Barmah Al, a six-time winner from 47 starts, is a $10 chance with TAB in a 1980m Benchmark 58 on a Heavy 10 track.
Gaskin prepared an emotional winner of her own last October, The Talking Toff, a day after losing her father to a battle with illness.
“He (Barmah Al) might be one that could pop his head out for Daryl, it would be a fairytale,” Gaskin said.
“He loves a wet track that horse and he’s the sort that could pop up at any old odds too.
“That’s the horse I’ll be cheering for the most, being Daryl’s horse, hopefully for Rhys, Debbie and Bo it gets up.
“They’re all lovely people.”
RV chief executive Andrew Jones extended his condolences on behalf of the Victorian racing industry.
“Daryl was a popular member of the Echuca training community where his son Rhys carries on the family name as a licensed trainer,” Jones said.
“We know Daryl will be deeply missed by his family and all in racing who knew him over a career that spanned more than 45 years as a trainer in Victoria.”