Melody Fox classy

Press, 23 October 1989, Page 24

Melody Fox classy

Southland correspondent

Melody Fox relied on her courage and will to win to extend her unbeaten sequence to three in the Princess Mellay Stakes at Gore on Saturday. The gifted daughter of Veloso shook off a cold and seasonal complaints in the lead-up to the $13,000 feature for three-year-old fillies. She appeared an oddson proposition to be beaten at the straight entrance after being shunted three-wide near the 600 m. However, she dipped into her reserves and unwound an undeniable claim to win on her merits. “She wasn’t herself today and wasn’t going much good when pushed three wide. But she really grabbed the bit when she saw horses in front of her on straightening up,” rider Raymond Bruce said. Co-trainer Peter

Williams, of Ashburton, was a relieved man after the filly’s third win from as many starts.

“She caught a cold after winning at the Winton meeting and had been in season during the week,” he pointed out. “I will play it very much by ear and monitor her progress closely for a few days before thinking seriously about the One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton.” Whereas her marked brilliance won her first two starts for her, Melody Fox’s courage and determination were called on in Saturday’s triumph. She demonstrated her competitive spirit in striking terms over the last 200 m. Williams and his wife, Dawn, prepare Melody Fox for Winton racing enthusiast Bill Doherty, who races her on lease from Russell Scown, of Auckland. Williams and rider Bruce were reluctant to label her a better filly than stablemate Miss Tris,

which has been sidelined by shin soreness. Rather, they felt they were level pegging in terms of class and potential. Both horsemen, however, expressed confidence in Melody Fox’s ability to master 1600 metres, such was the grit she revealed over 1400 m on Saturday. Bruce, enjoying his nineteenth success for the season, was successful on last year’s Princess Mellay Stakes winner, Fly Baby. Although Melody Fox may lack the seasoning of North Island fillies, she promises to be a worthy South Island candidate for One Thousand Guineas honours if she progresses satisfactorily over the next 10 days. A pedigree analysis suggests Melody Fox will measure up later if tried for stamina. Her sire, Veloso, won the Sydney Cup (3200 metres) and the filly’s dam, Madam Fox, boasts stout strains of Foxbridge and Blueskin II in her maternal line-up.