RAND SEPT 05 - MELITO JUST TOO GOOD FOR THEM

By HRO | Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Randwick, September 5, 2009.
Furious Stakes (3yo Fillies, Group 2) - 1400m.
Track - Good. Time: 1-21.54.
1 Melito; 2 Miss Hurtle Myrtle; 3 Lovemelikearock.

Meeting the same opposition as last start, but far better off at the weights, the Gerald Ryan trained Melito proved far too good for her opposition to score impressively.

Melito was given a beautiful textbook ride by Corey Brown. Slightly better than midfield, he pulled her wide on the turn, balanced her up over the rise and when he pushed the button the race was over in a few strides.

Runner up, the improving Hurtle Myrtle sat just off the winner throughout and tried hard to stay with her, but was not quite up to that task. The unlucky runner was Deer Valley who struck plenty of trouble in the straight but hit the line well late.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gerald Ryan: “She drew the barrier where we were able to take advantage and get a couple to lead her. When Danny Nikolic was riding her in the Autumn he always said she would be a better filly ridden back off the pace, but just where she has drawn barriers and the speed in races we weren't able to do it, but today we were.

“She is the real deal. The next two legs - the 1500m and the 1600m - she is going to be hard to beat at level weights.”

Jockey Corey Brown: “I reckon she's a better horse ridden just back off them a little bit. The other day, because of the bad barrier, we put her right up on the speed and I reckon it just took a bit of a finish away from her. Whereas today, just a few lengths off them and round them on the home turn, she had an explosive turn of foot. She only really got going about the 100m to 150m, but it's pretty good.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Speedy Natalie, Lovemelikearock, Magic Model and More Valour were slow to begin. Approaching the 1200m Morosi got its head up and ran in, resulting in Melito being hampered and taken in onto More Valour. Then at the 1000m More Valour raced in restricted room between Magic Model and Lovemelikearock. Morosi continued to race ungenerously in the middle stages. Kiss Me Katy over-raced in the middle stages. For some distance passing the 700m Magic Model raced in restricted room inside More Valour, which shifted in when being restrained off the heels of Melito.

App. D Ganderton, rider of Deer Valley, was reprimanded for endeavouring to improve to the inside of the heels of More Valour on the home turn and, in so doing, coming in contact with Magic Model, resulting in that horse being taken in behind the heels of Speedy Natalie. In the incident Deer Valley was checked and its rider, App. D Ganderton, became badly unbalanced in the saddle.

On straightening Kiss Me Katy was held up when initially disappointed for a run between Our Joan Of Arc and Chordata. Approaching the 200m Deer Valley, which had been held up for a run, endeavoured to improve between Kiss Me Katy and Chordata where there was doubtful room. In the incident Kiss Me Katy, which was positioned to the inside of the heels of Our Joan Of Arc, shifted in slightly, which resulted in Deer Valley making contact with the hindquarter of Chordata, turning that horse out and resulting in Deer Valley have to be severely checked by its rider, App. D Ganderton. In the incident Speedy Natalie was badly hampered.

App. Ganderton was told that he must ensure there is sufficient room when endeavouring to improve his position. Speedy Natalie had difficulty obtaining clear running over the latter stages of the event.

Brown