Ben Melham overcame difficulties on a deteriorating track to guide promising stayer Sea Galleon to the gelding’s first metropolitan win at Moonee Valley.
The Aquanas Foods Hcp (2040m) was run in misty rain and Melham said he was completely blinded down the side of the track when his rivals were making their runs.
“My goggles were completely fogged and I got a bit of kickback on the loose surface and they all got around me and I was in a bit of trouble there for a while,” Melham said.
“But the runs opened for me.”
The race was run on a slow 6 surface after being downgraded during the day.
Backed from $8 to $6.50, Sea Galleon, who had drifted back to ninth on the home turn after racing in five position, powered home late to score by 1-1/4 lengths from Elusive King ($8) with Jeuneys End ($61) a short head away third.
Co-trainer Cindy Alderson was impressed with the way the Galileo five-year-old finished off the race.
“I thought he was going to be another hard luck story as he had absolutely no where to go,” she said.
Alderson said jockey Chris Munce had dropped the whip Sea Galleon ran seventh to Magical Hit at his previous start over 2000m at Flemington on November 5.
“The blinkers on again also helped today,” she said.
Alderson said the chestnut had always shown ability.
As a three-year-old he finished third to Kidnapped in the Group One South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville but Saturday’s win was only his third from 18 starts.
Earlier Horsham hobby trainer Mick Clark went away happy after tough mare Let’s Be Happy got up to win the Printhouse Graphics Hcp (1200m) in a blanket finish.
Clark, who has just two horses in work, combines training with working with disadvantaged people.
Let’s Be Happy has won three of her past four starts and made it two in a row at the Valley having won at the night meeting last month.
Dean Holland, who has ridden Let’s Be Happy ($18) at her past two starts, settled her back from a wide barrier and she stormed home late to score by a short head from Zeftaba with Our Spirits Bay a half head away third.
Close behind the placegetters were Avionics, a long head fourth with Shabangabang a short head away fifth.
Clark gave Let’s Be Happy some chance in what was the toughest race she had faced.
“She’s adaptable and we thought she was some chance but it’s all luck,” he said.
Holland was impressed with the five-year-old’s toughness.
“She’s one of the toughest horses I’ve ridden. The more you ride this horse the better it goes,” he said.
AAP TURF
