Melmich, off Durham Cup win, likely for Autumn Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – At this time last year, Melmich was coming off a runner-up finish in the Temperence Hill Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park and had his sights set on November’s Grade 2 Marathon Stakes as part of the Breeders’ Cup Friday undercard at Santa Anita.
This year, trainer Kevin Attard is planning on keeping Melmich at home.
The 6-year-old gelding won his fifth consecutive start and remained undefeated in 2017 with a 7 1/2-length victory over U S Marshal in Saturday’s Grade 2, $130,000 Durham Cup Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on Woodbine’s Tapeta. Attard said Melmich would likely be pointed to the Grade 2, $175,000 Autumn Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta on Nov. 12 for his next start, and he could also run in the Grade 3, $125,000 Valedictory Stakes over 1 3/4 miles on Tapeta to close out the meet Dec. 10.
“He hasn’t been the greatest shipper for me,” Attard said. “Ideally, I would like to keep him here for now. Obviously, the Autumn comes up and the timing is good.
Attard noted that Melmich had 30 days between his victory in the Elgin and the Durham Cup, compared to 17 days between his win in the Seagram Cup and the Elgin.
“We jammed him back a little quick in the Elgin,” he said. “He had 30 days for the race yesterday. I think the time between races works in his favor. You just have to walk him over from the barn to the paddock.”
Melmich was the 2-5 favorite for last year’s running of the Valedictory, but lost by a half-length to Bangkok. Attard said he felt shipping multiple times played a part in the loss.
“Last year, the whole shipping to New York and California kind of caught up to him a little bit,” he said. “It took a little bit of his zest for the Valedictory last year. I don’t think he was at his best for that race. We’re going to take it one step at a time, but if the Autumn is the next race, the Valedictory works out well timing-wise.”
Attard said he was pleased with the way Melmich came out of Saturday’s Durham Cup Stakes and believes he should be in the discussion for Canadian Horse of the Year.
“He came out of the race in good shape,” he said. “He cooled out well. It was a fairly easy race for him it seemed. He’s won three graded races. I think he’s the only horse in Canada that can speak for that. I think he should have a good chance at [Horse of the Year].”
