THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN: IS THIS THE DAY TO GET IN THE LINE FOR THAT TEE-SHIRT?

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 19, 2018

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

Punters embrace certain horses more than others for different reasons.

The majesty of Winx, supreme in all she does, is an obvious point of attraction. The dogged determination and ‘never say die’ attitude of Buffering was the key factor in winning over punter’s hearts. Makybe Diva comes readily to mind … and, of course, there are other examples over the years of horses who had etched their place into the Fan-Club Hall Of Fame which, when you think about it, is quite a prestigious club to be in.

Well today at Doomben another horse who has become something of a people’s favourite will line up in the Doomben Cup … and Tom Melbourne is an absolute example of how a horse can become a fan favourite in a roundabout way which does not necessary include its fair share of silverware.

Sometimes a horse is referred to as being ‘honest.’ That description epitomises this Irish bred seven-year-old. Five wins from thirty starts is not the statistic that has drawn punters to this Chris Waller trained runner. It is the fact that Tom Melbourne has finished as runner-up on ten occasions that has brought him affectionate recognition for his gameness.

No less than seven of those second placings have come this season (with no wins) … four of them coming in a row at the start of his campaign … and that set of results include Group 1 finishes behind Happy Clapper in The Epsom and Shillelagh in the Cantala Stakes, Group 2 races behind Happy Clapper in the Tramway, Comin’ Through in the Ajax and Oregon’s Day in the Hollindale with the two other results coming in Group 3 contests.

That elusive, hard strived for, long awaited victory that almost every run promises is just around the corner is what has endeared Tom Melbourne to the racing public and they know he will put in one hundred percent in the Doomben Cup where Comin’ Through and Oregon’s Day will again be in the line-up trying to ensure that his near-miss run is extended.

It is a case of when Tom Melbourne does claim a big race victory nobody will begrudge him his due reward.

Will that moment come today?

That is in the lap of the racing gods but, if it does, you can always join the queue lining up for tee-shirts emblazoned with the words, ‘I was there the day Tom Melbourne won!’