St Jean (IRE) is sadly no longer with us and while Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours has set the benchmark for this unheralded stallion, a debut winner by the son of Teofilo in the Ciaron Maher stable was an eye-catching debut winner at Caulfield on Wednesday.
Four year-old gelding Melek was kicking off in the 1600m maiden with Craig Williams to ride and hit the line hard to score a soft win.
Melek scored by a length over the race favourite Wolfoffitroysteet, a three year-old Ghaiyyath (IRE) gelding also trained by Maher.
Melek runs for his trainer and the late Colin McKenna’s Halo Racing with his wife Janice in the ownership.
The McKenna’s bred the gelding as they did Half Yours, but while the Cups king was famously sold through Inglis Digital after starting his career with Ciaron Maher, Melek was retained.
“It was a really impressive win and we didn’t see that one coming over the mile as he’s definitely going to get further,” said stable representative Leigh Allen.
“He’s taken some time as he’s four now, but from what you saw there he has a bright future.”
Craig Williams was pleasantly surprised by Melek.
“He has been well prepared and educated for today, although on the way to the start he was trying to run away with me and I though this is a bit awkward,” he said.
“He then stepped away a little slowly, but responded well and then just kept lengthening all the way and he was determined to stock his head and win comfortably in the end.”
Melek is the second winner from Pure Theatre mare Regina Coeli, who won the Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase twice and comes from the family of Melbourne Cup winning Australian Horse of the Year Might and Power.
Pedigree says a lot further will be right up his alley, so keep a watch on Melek as he steps out in trip.
