Melham keen to make impact in Hong Kong Sprint
AUSTRALIAN jockey Ben Melham isn’t just making up the numbers in next Sunday’s Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint, he wants to make a serious impact on the international level.
Melham will partner Manikato Stakes winner Rebel Dane and he believes the seven-year-old is working well after its trial at Rosehill last week.
“He’s going very well. He felt really good and ready to go,” Melham said.
Melham will ride Rebel Dane every day this week in the lead-up to the Hong Kong Sprint.
“I want to make an impact. I haven’t ridden here before, so I want to get there and get to know the track and the horse,” Melham said.
“I’m really happy to have the opportunity to ride him.
“Who knows what may come of it?”
Trainer Gary Portelli believes he has Rebel Dane well-prepared for its biggest target yet.
“We wanted to have all his gallops done here before he went,” Portelli said. “We have him ready to go and it will be just a jog-and-canter job with him once he gets there.
“He has been racing at the top level since he was three and to still be able to match it at seven shows how tough he actually is,” Portelli said.
“You are always looking for something that might find him that little bit extra and, for him, it has been the blinkers and a bit of jumping.”
Rebel Dane is currently an each way chance at $17 with Sportsbet.com.au with fellow Australian Takedown at $9.
Another Australian hoping to make waves in Hong Kong this week is Hugh Bowman. The champion jockey is riding at Happy Valley in the International Jockey Series before securing rides in all four Group one races at the International Meeting on Sunday.
Bowman rides former Australian galloper Not Listenin’tome in the Hong Kong Sprint which he believes is a strong winning chance having won the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint last month.
“His performance last start was very good and he’s since trialled really well. I think he can win,” Bowman said.
He also rides Lovely Day ($12 at CrownBet) in the Hong Kong Cup and he’s confident of a good effort.
“He’s a very good horse in a very good race,” he added.
Pakenham pushing for Metropolitan features
After a successful Pakenham Cup Day on Saturday, the improving club is now pushing for more metropolitan meetings.
Pakenham chief executive Michael Hodge said the club wants more city meetings as the likes of Moonee Valley are primarily hosting Friday night meetings.
“I see more meetings coming as a consequence of a metro infrastructure review… and the implication that might have for venues such as Sandown and Moonee Valley, which has flagged its intentions of moving the majority of its Saturdays to a Friday night circuit,” Hodge said.
“I think those factors will throw up a lot more opportunities for clubs like Pakenham.
“For us it’s about a couple of extra meetings here and there.”
Craig Williams rode four winners on Saturday and he was pleased with what transpired on track.
“You could see the crowd and we broke three track records (1000m, 1200m and 1600m) because of the quality of horse we had,” Williams said.
O’Shea pair heading towards Villiers Stakes
Malice was an impressive winner of the ATC Cup at Rosehill on Saturday and it has earned its shot at the Villiers Stakes in two weeks time at Randwick.
The John O’Shea-trained gelding will be joined by stablemate Duca Valentinois which only battled home for fourth on Saturday.
“Malice has been finding the line well this time in and he got in a race with a bit speed and ran up to his best form,” O’Shea said.
“We always had it in our minds to drop back to the mile and I think the Randwick mile with the speed on will really suit him.
“Duca Valentinois pleased us and he will go from 61 kilos to the bottom of the weights in the Villiers, which is a big advantage.
“He didn’t get a lot of favours the way that race was run on Saturday and had to make a long run and it’s worth having a crack at the Villiers with him.”
Birchley heading to Wyong with filly
Queensland trainer Liam Birchley is hoping to pick up more prizemoney for Sista Act, which won a QTIS 2YO at the Sunshine Coast last week.
The filly won $12,000 for the win, but Birchley knows that is unlikely to be enough to earn a spot in the Magic Millions 2YO on January 14.
Birchley will likely head to the Wyong Magic Millions on December 22 where recent Magic Millions winners Capitalist and Unencumbered both came through.
“I don’t think winning a Saturday race in Brisbane will even be enough,” Birchley said.
“There are some stakes races in Brisbane but I might even slip down to Wyong for the Millions race later this month. Sista Act has her share of pace and she would be suited by Wyong.”
Birchley also trains Real Princess ($41 at Sportsbet) which has earned $52,000 this season and it should have enough to get into the field.
“I was able to give her a break after her Doomben win. She probably has enough in prize money already but I want to make sure,” Birchley said.
“She will probably come back in the Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben in two weeks.”