Tom Melbourne steps out in Saturday's Tramway Stakes
Recent stable acquisition Tom Melbourne should give Chris Waller a clearer indication of where his spring aspirations sit after a black-type debut for Sydney’s premier trainer at Randwick.
Waller was impressed with the former Irish gelding’s first start since being transferred from Lee and Anthony Freedman, a luckless second to Kingsguard in the Spring Preview (1400m) at Rosehill on August 12.
Had he not been blocked for a run on the straight under Blake Shinn, the seven-year-old would have likely made an even greater first impression.
“He was very unlucky,” Waller said.
Tom Melbourne will step out in Saturday’s Group Two Tramway Stakes (1400m).
“It’s an interesting race from his perspective. If he shows he’s got good speed second-up I’ll probably target a race like the Epsom Handicap or the Toorak Handicap with him.
“I think he’s a better handicapper than a weight-for-age horse just at the moment because he’s still got a nice rating (94).
“Saturday will tell us whether we’re dreaming about running him over the mile in big races, or whether we should be stepping up to the longer distance races,” Waller said on his weeklu online stabletalk.
Tom Melbourne was a $6 chance on the fourth line of betting with the TAB on Thursday.
Waller also has highly-rated McCreery ($12) resuming in the Tramway for his first start since his fifth in the Group One Doomben Cup on May 20.
“He hasn’t won a Group One but he’s been a bit stiff in a couple of them,” Waller said.
“He’s reasonably well-suited by the set weights and penalties.
“Keep watching him this prep, he’s come back very well.”
