Jim Melton to go alone

Press, 14 September 1988, Page 51

Jim Melton to go alone

By

DAVID McCARTHY

Jim Melton, foreman for the southern-based arm of the Paddy Busuttin stable at Riccarton, since it was established nearly three years ago, is to train on his own account from the beginning of October. Melton will operate initially from a base at Riccarton racecourse with a team of about eight horses which he hopes to build up to about 15 later on. The Busuttin stable at Riccarton, the first of its kind in New Zealand with one trainer operating from two separate centres, will continue. Melton's team will consist largely of young horses though Langcliffe is likely to join the stable in the next few weeks. Through his brother, Dean, who is based at Matamata, and close contacts with the Mike Moroney stable, Melton also hopes to pick up more prospects from the ranks of northern gallopers.

A two-year-old March Legend filly from Shabani, a Hermes half-sister to Copper Belt could be seen out in the first southern juvenile event at Riccarton if her current progress is maintained and Melton has a two-year-old

colt by Cautious Style, ~ White Robe’s first season sire, from a Shifnal half- ' sister to Riwai. Green Apple is a two-year-old - Domingly filly to join the stable along with Star

Deceiver, a Diplomatic Star filly, and Amadera, already a winner at trials, which is from a half-sister to Gallipoli. Melton’s decision to

strike out on his own was not an easy one to make but one he found inevitable as time passed. “I was being offered

quite a few horses to train but their owners preferred them not to be in a large stable such as Paddy’s is. I had to make the break sooner or later and now is as good a time as any,” Melton said. Melton had considerable success during his southern stay with Busuttin. Accurate figures to measure success are not easy to establish because of the fluid nature of stable numbers during the season but there were 15 winners last season among horses based at Riccarton for lengthy periods and over 50 in all since the stable was established. Melton had extensive experience both in New Zealand and Australia before taking his present position. Paddy Busuttin is expected to announce a replacement for Melton in the near future after discussions about some aspects of his Canterbury operations. “We are sorry to lose Jim who has done a fine job. But there is no thought about not carrying on with the idea of a southern stable which has worked well for us,” Busuttin said. Busuttin, who is shortly to move to a new 80 hectare property about 10km from his prsent Foxton base, says there are a number of people interested in the Canterbury position.