Retirement party set for Melmich

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Local fan favorite Melmich will be honored with a retirement ceremony on Woodbine Mile Day here Saturday.

Melmich was a $20,000 claim in 2014 by trainer Kevin Attard for owners Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman. The 8-year-old gelding ultimately put together a career record of 17-16-5 from 46 starts, while amassing $1,388,331 in earnings.

Melmich was recently retired to the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society’s farm in Hillsburgh, Ontario, where he will be assessed for aptitude for a post-racing career and put up for adoption.

“He was a great horse,” Attard said. “He deserves a little recognition. He’s retiring sound. It’s a good story.”

Starship Jubilee set for Canadian

Attard has several horses for the graded stakes here Saturday, most notably the reigning Canadian champion female grass runner, Starship Jubilee, who will try to win the Grade 2 Canadian for the second year in a row. She worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds on the main turf course here last Saturday.

“I thought she breezed really well,” Attard said. “She looked pretty strong out there.”

Sir Sahib could be construed as a live longshot in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf. He was a wide, closing second behind divisional leader Tiz a Slam last time out in the Grade 2 Nijinsky. He breezed five-eighths in a bullet 59.20 on the Tapeta last Saturday.

“He worked really well,” Attard said. “There’s been no pace in his races, and it’s really hurt him. If he could get an honest pace in front of him, it would help his running style.”

Pumpkin Rumble, victorious over Melmich in the Grade 3 Valedictory in December, is coming off a third in the 1 1/2-mile Nijinsky. He, too, has worked nicely leading up to the 1 1/2-mile Northern Dancer Turf, in which he finished seventh in 2017.

Blessed Truly gets time off

Attard said Blessed Truly is getting a break after her blowout maiden score here Aug. 28 in the $175,000 Muskoka Stakes. She earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure in that stakes for graduates of the 2018 Canadian Premier yearling sale.

“I’m going to put her on the shelf for a little while,” Attard said. “We’ve got some big plans for her. We were gearing towards the Muskoka. I think she’s going to be a pretty special horse – not a typical Ontario-sired horse.”

Attard’s other promising 2-year-old, Malibu Mambo, is headed for the $225,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes on Oct. 6 following his debut win in a seven-furlong maiden special on the Tapeta on Aug. 31.

“We’re going to point him to the Cup and Saucer,” Attard explained. “He came out of his race in good shape. I like him a lot. I think he’s a nice colt. He should handle the turf. He’s by Point of Entry.”