Distant Melody Up To Group Company, Says Trainer

Sun Herald

Sunday November 11, 2007

By Pat Bartley

COUNTRY trainer Craig Conron not only delivered a surprise victory with the talented Distant Melody in the Glyde Stakes yesterday, he's also predicting a group-race future for the three-year-old.

Conron was so impressed with Distant Melody that he is considering running the horse in the Sandown Guineas on Saturday.

"I'm tempted to start him," Conron said. "He's shown us a lot and if he comes through today's race in good fashion, we'll probably run him. We've always liked him.

"When we gave him a gallop as a young horse, I pitted him against a strong sprinter of mine and he kept up well and that's when I knew he had ability."

Conron gave Distant Melody his first start last month at Terang, in western Victoria, where he easily accounted for a field of maidens.

"We took him there for experience," Conron said.

"He was a little bit underdone but I knew when I brought him to Flemington today he'd be highly competitive."

Distant Melody was friendless in the ring, drifting from $21 to $26, before battling on tenaciously to score from the $3.70 favourite El Mandon. Flea Flicker, a $31 hope, was in third position.

Distant Melody was bred by Melbourne businessman Morrie Bloom.

However, if Distant Melody doesn't make the Sandown Guineas field, the trainer maintains the horse promises a fruitful autumn.

"He's going to be an even better horse next time in, and at the back of my mind I can see races like the South Australian Derby as his main hope," Conron said.

The favourite, El Mandon, looked certain to win with 400 metres to gallop for jockey Craig Newitt but Distant Melody (James Winks) continued to fight on the inside and staved off the late challenge.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained Flea Flicker, ridden by Cox Plate-winning hoop Luke Nolen, finished well and could be another to threaten in the Sandown Guineas.

© 2007 Sun Herald

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