Scott Singleton is predicting as bright a future in the breeding barn as it was on the track for his beloved mare Melody Again who is set to light up the sale ring when offered to buyers at the Gold Coast next Tuesday.
The daughter of Your Song will be sold as a racing and breeding proposition having finished fourth at her 30th and final start for Singleton when attempting to defend her Dark Jewel crown at Scone on May 16.
“Obviously she is a nice mare and you can’t really replace those sort of horses very quickly but I am not sad,” Singleton said.
“I feel like we’ve done a good job with her and she is going to make a terrific broodmare so hopefully she ends up in the right hands.
“Physically (the breeders) will go a long way to find a nicer type than her. She’s big and black and just a beautiful mare. Plus she’s got five or six bits of black-type on the page there, she is a genuine Group class mare and there is still a chance to run her in the Tatt’s Tiara if whoever buys her sees fit. She is in good shape. She ran terrific in the Dark Jewel again so she’s sound and healthy and she’d be ready to train on to that before she went to stud.”
As well as her racing prowess, Melody Again can lay claim to be a member of an extremely important and influential thoroughbred family. Her eighth dam is the English import Coogee whose mating with Biscay when Coogee was aged 20 as it happens, resulted in Bletchingly, the sire of Kingston Town for one among other champions.
Singleton won’t be taking any Melody Agains to Gunnedah but those that will make the trip have some chance of picking up a race on the town’s annual Cup Day undercard. Chief among them is Magurtz in the Streater Family Butchery Class 1 Showcase Handicap (1400m) with Mikayla Weir on board.
A lightly-raced son of Tassort, Magurtz is open to vast improvement off his underwhelming first-up run at Muswellbrook on April 20 thanks in part to a quick, yet suitable, step from 1000m to 1400m.
“He won over 1280m last prep and Christian Reith has always been of the opinion that he is a seven furlong horse,” Singleton says. “He missed the kick a little bit first-up and he never got into the race. He’s done plenty of work and he is fit enough to win if he is good enough and he seems to be going terrific at home so I think he will be very hard to beat in that race.”
Magurtz was the second foal of his dam, Hey Doris, who carries a Melbourne Cup connection. The daughter of Jet Spur was herself bred, and raced, by Larry Olsen who won the 1987 Cup for Hall Of Famer, Les Bridge.
Shayne O’Cass’ Top Selections
Best Bet
Race 2 No. 2: What A Scandal – Talented and progressive 2YO; drawn well, just needs to handle the wet now.
Next Best
Race 8 No. 4: Sonofdec – Carried 61kg to win The Four Pillars. Handles the conditions.
Value Bet
Race 9 No. 15: Super Freds – Underrated type who tries hard and wins whenever he gets the favours.
Quaddie
- Race 6: 2, 4, 5, 6, 12
- Race 7: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
- Race 8: 4, 10
- Race 9: 9, 15
Jockey to Follow
Shannen Llewellyn has the Cup/Lightning double in her sights.
Inside Mail – Gunnedah
Race 1: Pursehouse Rural Gunnedah Class 1 & Maiden Showcase Plate 2150m
Currumbin Alley (1) is by Vancouver out of a Savabeel mare so always had the potential to turn into a stayer which will find out today one way or another given he is going to 2150m from a 1600m Scone Cup Day second to Bird Whistle no less. If he stays, he wins. It’s Not Over (7) seems pretty one-pace and pretty dour but that might be enough to medal here. Bet: Currumbin Alley to win.
Race 2: Cool Blue Ice 2yo Showcase Handicap 1000m
What A Scandal (1) has improved after each of her three runs this first campaign, culminating in her easy win in the time-honoured Romantic Dream at Tamworth a month ago. Good draw, good jockey. Streama’s relation Miss Andreas (9) also has a good jockey but on her a not so good draw. Banking on her being way better than her debut in the Miss Finland when she was well-backed. Bet: What A Scandal to win, Miss Andreas to place.
Race 3: Gunnedah Bulk Freighters Country Boosted Showcase Maiden Handicap 1250m
Sutton Storm (1) is a mighty good chance of being Anna Weatherlake’s first winner (this is her fourth race ride). She ran fourth on this horse at his excellent debut. Just a tricky draw to navigate that’s all. Ordinary Angel (4) was in fact very ordinary on debut at Taree back on April 9 but that can happen on debut to some and she had trialled well beforehand. Bet: Sutton Storm to win, Ordinary Angel each-way.
Race 4: C L Rural Showcase Super Maiden Plate 1400m
Daisy Duck (9) had her first runs in Victoria for Chris Waller; the best one a second at Sale. She’s had two starts for the new management, the May 10 one was a second to Stormy Seas who has Highway written all over him. Czech Her Out (8) and stablemate What A Gent (6) have claims but imagine only one of them comes. Torpedo Tube (15) has drawn well to run well. Bet: Daisy Duck to win, Torpedo Tube to place.
Race 5: Streater Family Butchery Class 1 Showcase Handicap 1400m
Portofino (1) is going to win better races, be it a Highway, a midweeker, something better again, time will tell. He was $1.24 at his first run for Mack Griffith/Aaron Bullock at Mudgee on May 10 and won by panels. Might just be better than them again. That said, that was the ‘real’ Smart Scud (6) we saw win at Narromine at his second career start. Fireup (17) may not run but could figure at big odds. Bet: Portofino to win, Fireup to place.
Race 6: Haires Bus Service Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap 1250m
Indi Springs (6) is another one for the Griffith/Bullock combination. This 3YO daughter of Peltzer has a tidy record of four starts for a (four length) win and two seconds. That May 11 second was to Dingle Grey who is, easily provincial grade. Freedom To Roam (12) is a valuable half-sister to Converge. She seems to be thriving since Holly Williams took over. Bet: Indi Springs to win, Freedom To Roam to place.
Race 7: Ultrafleet Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap 1250m
Orsum (4) was scratched from a Newcastle Benchmark 64 yesterday to contest this Benchmark 58 over the same 1250m trip. She is a very reliable mare when she is at or around this trip. Most pertinent point to make is that she is a last start winner. Jockey Leanne Boyd is 16 rides, three wins and four placings on her. Iknowyou (5) has finished first or second at nine of his 17 starts which makes his $7.50/$2.40 appealing. Bet: Orsum each-way, Daily Double 1st leg 4, 2nd leg 15.
Race 8: Mannion Drilling Big Dance Eligibility Gunnedah Showcase Cup 1600m
Sonofdec (4) won the Four Pillars beating 17 rivals while shouldering 61kg. Thus he looks pretty well treated in the Gunnedah Cup with 59kg. Granted he finished last at Kembla at his lead-up run but had some excuses. Simply put, his ‘best’ is arguably better than the rest. Tavros is saddled with 62.5kg but gets Aaron Bullock. Ballinderry Sal (10) has 55kg and she’s a Highway winner. Bet: Sonofdec each-way, Ballinderry Sal to place, First 4 Nos. 1,2,3,4,10 (boxed).
Race 9: Courthouse Hotel Gunnedah Lightning Showcase Handicap 1000m
Super Freds (15) is the older sibling of the abovementioned Sonofdec. This 7YO son of Super One won his 58th start in a Benchmark 66 sprint at Scone. Was better than it looked at Canterbury after that Scone was a heavy 8 on May 12 (his last run). Doesn’t win out of turn but this is the type of race he wins when he does win. Tough Guy (9) has a fabulous strike-rate of four wins and two placings from 13 starts. Won twice first-up and trialling like it be number three here. Bet: Super Freds each-way, Tough Guy each-way, quinella 9,15 trifecta 5,6,9,15 (boxed).
