{"id":185399,"date":"2025-06-15T03:50:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-15T03:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/185399\/"},"modified":"2025-06-15T03:50:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-15T03:50:13","slug":"jockey-martin-harleys-jj-atkins-win-on-cool-archie-caps-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/185399\/","title":{"rendered":"Jockey Martin Harley’s JJ Atkins win on Cool Archie caps return"},"content":{"rendered":"

Newly crowned JJ Atkins<\/a> champion Martin Harley<\/a> remembers the “dark days” when he feared his career as a jockey was over.<\/p>\n

In January 2023, the popular Irishman suffered multiple fractures to his neck in a sickening fall during a midweek race.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to the Queensland Winter Carnival, and the 35-year-old hoop broke a 10-year Group 1<\/a> drought to take out the JJ Atkins (1600m)<\/a> on Champion Two Year Old of the season contender Cool Archie<\/a> at Eagle Farm<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Chris and Corey Munce<\/a>-trained colt capped an incredible season with his fifth straight victory in a sensational campaign that began with a maiden win at Doomben in mid-April and ended with a major win on Stradbroke Handicap<\/a> Day.<\/p>\n

\u2022 PUNT LIKE A PRO<\/a>: Become a Racenet iQ member<\/a> and get expert tips \u2013 with fully transparent return on investment statistics \u2013 from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips<\/a> section. SUBSCRIBE NOW<\/a>!<\/b><\/p>\n

Harley has taken a short break from riding to visit his family in Ireland and watch the races at famous racetrack Royal Ascot in England this week as a spectator.<\/p>\n

But his frightening fall in 2023 left him wondering whether he’d even be able to walk again, let alone make a comeback to riding \u2013 particularly given he was forced to wear a neck halo for several weeks during a long stint on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

“Certainly there were dark days during that four-and-a-half month period,” he told Racenet.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI’m glad to get back on that Group 1 board.\u201d <\/p>\n

Martin Harley gets his first Group 1 win on Australian soil! pic.twitter.com\/U0Rd3YSXoo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 7HorseRacing ???? (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u2022 Cool Archie delivers Group 1 milestones in JJ Atkins<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

“I think the big key was that I never had any operations during that period and it was all natural healing.<\/p>\n

“Everything went back for scans and the healing was going in the right direction.<\/p>\n

“That was a big boost for me to even make a comeback. I didn’t know if I even wanted to get back on a horse.<\/p>\n

“When I had my first winner in my comeback \u2013 Sunfall<\/a> for Barry Lockwood<\/a> at Doomben (in May 2023) \u2013 I’ll never forget it.<\/p>\n

“I wasn’t meant to give it up just yet and I got a big thrill out of my first winner back from the injury and to now ride a Group 1 winner (on Cool Archie), that’s very special.<\/p>\n

“He wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s just the whole package and he can do it all.” <\/p>\n

\n

Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! ????@munceracing<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/X0oBUWkZB0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u2022 What the jockeys said: 2025 JJ Atkins<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

The well-travelled Harley has now won six majors since 2012 \u2013 three in France and one each in Ireland, England and Australia.<\/p>\n

Asked where the JJ Atkins victory rated among his six Group 1s, the 35-year-old said: “It’s hard to split them. <\/p>\n

“When I came out of my apprenticeship, my first Group 1 winner back in Ireland (in 2012 in the Irish 1,000 Guineas) for Mick Channon on Samitar was very special.<\/p>\n

“Going back to my homeland to ride a Group 1 winner was unbelievable and then a Royal Ascot winner with Goldream (in 2015).<\/p>\n

“One thing I will say, this (the JJ Atkins) is up there with the best.”<\/p>\n

\n

JJ Atkins-winning jockey Martin Harley celebrating in style \u2708\ufe0f ???? <\/p>\n

Via Instagram \/ djzoro27 https:\/\/t.co\/AQCX7wbDNk<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/pMu68bGS2N<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 7HorseRacing ???? (@7horseracing) June 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u2022 Big Bets review: War Machine delivers winning result for punters<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Chris Munce, who will fly out to England on Sunday night with son Corey and Cool Archie’s owner Max Whitby to also attend the Royal Ascot Carnival, praised Harley’s ability to stay composed under pressure. <\/p>\n

“He’s very confident in his opinion and he backs himself, which is something I like,” Munce told Radio TAB on Sunday.<\/p>\n

“He rarely gets it wrong and he’s calm under pressure in the bigger races.”<\/p>\n