A weekend of solid results for OTI capped off with an almighty win for ‘people’s champion’ and All-Star Mile nominee Tom Melbourne.
Refusing to settle as bridesmaid once more, Tom Melbourne’s Listed Carrington Stakes win broke a thousand-day drought as he showed his lightning turn of foot coming into the Royal Randwick straight. Running clear of the field, he continued to power home defeating handy Godolphin miler Flow by two and a half lengths.
Ridding a losing streak that stretches back almost three years to the Albury Cup, jockey Blake Shinn had nothing but praise for the horse. “I am rapt for OTI and all their patient owners. Chris Waller has put a lot of time and effort into the horse. How devastating was he! He really ambled up at the 300m. The speed was strong and I was mindful of going a bit early but he put the race to bed and attacked the line — it was just fantastic.’’
Shinn’s first time back in the saddle at the races in over 6 months due to injury, he was pleased to round out the day with a win on Tom. “It’s been a three-year drought with many seconds, it’s been frustrating, but to come back on my first day to ride this weight on 55.5kg and get a ride on Tom Melbourne, who I have a little bit of an affinity with and to get him to win, it’s a great thrill.”
To vote for Tom Melbourne in the upcoming All-Star Mile, please CLICK HERE.
Click on the play button below to view Tom Melbourne’s emphatic win…
Not to be overshadowed by Tom Melbourne’s Listed win at Randwick, stablemate Le Juge took out the Class 3 Plate over 1600m by a length over Saxton Rock at the Sunshine Coast. Running the final 600m in 34.92 seconds, jockey Robbie Fradd rode the horse to perfection closing beautifully in the final 200m – putting a win on the board.
The Australia Day holiday also saw Dusk Falls take to the track once more this preparation, running second in the Ken Phillips Memorial Handicap over 2200m at Warwick Farm. Taking up the running at the 800m mark he looked the winner coming into the final furlong going down by just a neck to the $2 favourite Gayatri. A solid effort from Dusk Falls, we hope to see his recent form replicated in further starts this campaign for Matthew C Smith Racing.
Congratulations to all of their connections and thank you to Matt Williams and his team at Warrnambool in their beach work and change of scenery during Tom Melbourne’s recent freshen up this preparation.
