Short-priced favourite Archives has had to do it the hard way but has showed fighting qualities to land a Group Three win at Moonee Valley.

Archives was sent out the $2.10 favourite in a field of six in Saturday's Telstra Phonewords Stakes (1200m) and travelled four-wide on the pace to the home turn.

Archives rallied after being headed in the straight to win by a short half head over lightly raced Crafted while Big John Cannon was another 1-1/4 lengths away third.

It was the second stakes victory for Archives who won the Listed Hampden Stakes in Brisbane as a juvenile and was runner-up in the Group Two Danehill Stakes first-up this spring.

He was dropping back in distance after finishing unplaced in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) last month.

"That was hard work," winning jockey James McDonald said.

"We travelled fairly wide but he kept his rhythm up. He had to be strong and held the rest of them at bay. He definitely had to do it the tough way.

"It's probably lucky it was moderate field, to be fair, but he got away with a good win."