Tom Melbourne To Shed Tag In Perth

Posted on November 17, 2017November 17, 2017 | Posted by Julio Santarelli

To borrow a musical term from the Pet Shop Boys Tom Melbourne will go west!

The call comes from trainer Chris Waller who will target a Perth Group 1 double in a bid to shed Tom Melbourne’s unwanted tag.

The seven-year-old is a prodigious, but unfilled talent, who has earned a maligned reputation as a bridesmaid and non-winner.

While competing creditably and recording placings at the elite level since his Albury Cup (2000m) victory in 2016, he has not greeted the judge as a winner in that time.

The Irish-bred galloper gets his chance to answer the critics when he tackles the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on November 25 and the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) two weeks later.

Waller’s racing manager Liam Prior says a campaign in Perth was an ideal opportunity for Tom Melbourne to claim an elusive Group 1 win.

“I think he has a sense of timing and will be very competitive in both,” Prior told Tabradio’s the Sports Daily.

“He probably deserves a win at the top level and I pretty much think Perth will be able to give him that opportunity.

“I don’t think he has trouble finding the line, but he has basically found one better on a number of occasions.

“If any horse deserves a Group 1 win he does because he has been able to mix it with the best of them at that level.

“He will go to Perth and if he draws well in the Railway and gets a good tempo he will give it a big shake.”

Tom Melbourne will be joined in the Railway Stakes by stable mate All Our Roads while Waller’s third runner Life Less Ordinary will target the Kingston Town Classic.

Tom Melbourne and All Our Roads clash again after last-start finishing second and fourth respectively in the Kennedy Mile (1600m) at Flemington on November 4.

“If he (All Our Roads) can draw a good gate in the Railway and get a smother up as opposed to making the running he has the class,” Prior said.

“It’s hard to split both of them, but given natural improvement out of Melbourne All Our Roads is on an upwards trajectory.”

Damien Oliver has been booked to ride Tom Melbourne, Craig Williams partners All Our Roads.

Tom Melbourne is currently quoted an $8.50 chance in TABtouch markets. All Our Roads is at $14.