A good performance by Tom Melbourne against his super star stablemate Winx in Saturday’s Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick could earn him more votes for the $5m All-Star Mile.
Tom Melbourne is one of seven runners up against Winx when she kicks off her 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival and the eight year old was back in favour with the punters with an overdue win in the Listed $150,000 Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Australia Day.
The Chris Waller trained Tom Melbourne shot up the voting leader board for All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 16 but with 3126 votes on Thursday afternoon, the popular gelding is still ranked in fourteenth position with the top ten guaranteed a spot in the race.
Waller is also hoping that Tom Melbourne can maintain his good form and gain more votes with another good performance on the weekend.
“He continues his quest towards entry into the All-Star Mile,” Waller said in his press release.
“He still needs a few votes so if anyone has any votes left please remember old Tom!”
“He showed that he still had a bit of fight left in him after a brilliant win last start.”
Tom Melbourne has drawn barrier six in the eight horse Apollo Stakes field and Waller can see jockey Glyn Schofield letting the veteran galloper stride to the front under his own steam.
“He looks the likely leader by default and I would hope that Glyn would be able to restrain him to ensure that he is rolling along at a tempo where he is comfortable.”
Early betting for the Apollo Stakes has Tom Melbourne marked at $26 while his glamour stablemate Winx dominates the betting at $1.09.
– horseracing.com.au
