The step up to 1800m in the Group 1 $1m Magic Millions-Kingston Town Classic at Ascot in Perth on Saturday will give Tom Melbourne a chance to record his first win for the Chris Waller stable.
Tom Melbourne, above with white cap and sleeves, is one of 3 runners for Chris Waller in the Kingston Town Classic at Ascot. Photo by Steve Hart.
Tom Melbourne has been placed six times from seven starts for Waller and will be one of three runners the premiership trainer will saddle up in the fifteen horse weight for age feature.
Damien Oliver will stick with Tom Melbourne after the pair teamed up for a last start third to Great Shot in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 25 while Michael Walker rides All Our Roads and Hong Kong based Douglas Whyte is booked to partner Life Less Ordinary.
Waller is still very hopeful that Tom Melbourne can find the winner’s stall for the stable and is keen to see him step back up to the 1800m.
“He’s going well and is a very relaxed horse,” Waller told AAP.
“I think getting up to the 1800 metres will suit him.”
As well as running third in the Group 1 Railway Stakes, Tom Melbourne was also Group 1 placed when second to Happy Clapper in the Group 1 $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on September 30 and two starts later was runner up again to stablemate Shillelagh in the Group 1 $1m Kennedy Mile (1600m) at Flemington on November 4, the first day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Tom Melbourne is on the fourth line of betting at $8.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au for the Kingston Town Classic behind the Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart who heads the market order at $3.50 while Life Less Ordinary is marked at $11 and All Our Roads is listed as a $17 chance.
English import Life Less Ordinary is coming off a last start second to Odeon in the Listed $150,000 James Boag’s Premium Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day while former New Zealand trained All Our Roads has had one run in Perth for a ninth to Great Shot in the Railway Stakes.
Early betting for the 2017 Kingston Town Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Black Heart Bart, $4.80 It’s Somewhat, $5.50 Perfect Jewel, $8.50 Tom Melbourne, $11 Achernar’s Star, Life Less Ordinary, $17 All Our Roads, $21 Material Man, Great Shot, $26 Pounamu, $34 Money Maher, $41 Royal Star, $51 Silverstream, Gatting, $101 Cosmic Storm.