Written by Paul Vettise
Brenton Avdulla looks to have found himself a genuine Group 1 prospect on his return from a successful riding stint in Japan. He made the most of his opportunities during a short-term contract there with leading trainer Yasutoshi Ikee and with Katsumi Yoshida, of Deep Impact fame {JPN} as his contracted owner.
The stint was a successful one with 14 winners, but said he was happy to be home and his decision to forsake a potentially strong book of rides at Randwick to be at Flemington on Saturday proved a wise one.
The short-term reward to follow the exciting Kris Lees-trained 3-year-old Smart Melody (Smart Missile) was victory in the Listed Cap d’Antibes, but the sky might be the limit in the longer-term.
“I got on the phone to Kris to see if I could get back on her. I think she’s the real deal.” – Brenton Avdulla.
“I won on her at Canterbury and she gave me a really good feel and then I missed her second run when I was in Japan,” Avdulla said. “I got on the phone to Kris to see if I could get back on her. I think she’s the real deal.”
The Gooree Stud filly is now unbeaten in four appearances and only a matter of time before she’s given the opportunity to challenge for higher honours. “She has got a really bright future. She’s built like a colt,” Avdulla said.
“She has got a really bright future. She’s built like a colt,” – Brenton Avdulla.
Smart Melody was up with the early play at Flemington and she drew clear late to keep her perfect record intact. The Phillip Stokes-trained Music Bay (Choisir) found the line strongly for second with Lady Puck (Pluck {USA}) home for third.
Brenton Avdulla believes Smart Melody is the real deal
Lees’ stable representative Cherie Marsham said Smart Melody was on a Group 1 path in Melbourne. “She’s always showed a lot, she’s very talented and she takes things in her stride. She’ll go to the Thousand Guineas Prelude and then try to get over a mile in the Thousand Guineas.”
The G1 Coolmore Stud S., over 1200 metres is an attractive option if Smart Melody is showing distance limitations.
Pedigree Notes
Smart Melody’s mother Sweetest Melody (Encosta de Lago) won seven races with success in the Listed Mona Lisa S., her career highlight. She is a half-sister to the multiple winner and Hong Kong Group 3 placegetter Well Noted (Jade Robbery {USA}).
It is also the family of the international Group 1 winners and sires Noverre (USA) (Rahy {USA}), Formidable (USA) (Forli {ARG}) and Joyeux Danseur (USA) (Nureyev {USA}).
