Tiley serious about Sydney for young star
Melt’s unbeaten record isn’t all that’s going on the line at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The precocious daughter of Iffraaj will attempt to stretch her winning sequence to three in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Sydney beckons if she can successfully complete her hat-trick.
“If she won and was reasonably dominant, and came through it well, that’s a serious option,” trainer Nigel Tiley said.
“I’ve nominated her for the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick, it’s a $1 million race and that would be the last run of her campaign.”
Melt won the Listed Ashford Lodge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe on debut before she claimed the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
She was then given a break and returned for a quiet trial over 1000m at Avondale last month.
“I’m very happy with her, she’s spot on,” Tiley said. “Everything has gone well and her bodyweight is right where I want it to be.”
He also can’t fault the condition of Brighton, who runs in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
“He’s never been better, his work this week has been the best it’s ever been,” Tiley said.
“He’s run in four Group One races and apart from the Derby, when distance-wise it was a step too far, he’s gone very good races.
“He went a slashing race when he was fourth in the Guineas at Christchurch, he got home really well when he was eighth in the Railway and he did the same in the Telegraph (seventh) and the NRM Sprint (eighth).
“He’s only a little horse and weight-for-age isn’t perfect for him, but he deserves his chance. He just needs the speed on.”
Brighton was a winner over a mile at Pukekohe two runs back and then finished fourth in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m).