Two-year-old Thyme For Roses has produced a career-best performance to date to take out the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) down the famous Flemington straight this afternoon.
Thyme For Roses was too good in this afternoon’s Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Jumping from the gates well, jockey Ben Melham allowed the Redoute’s Choice filly to stride forward and immediately take up the pace; setting a reasonable tempo for the field of nine alongside the likes of Joan Constance and Emphatically.
Asked for an extra effort with 300m to run, Thyme For Roses immediately responded and comfortably pulled clear of her rivals; saving the line for a comfortable win over Emphatically and Soviet Secret.
Melham delivered a typically polished performance aboard Thyme For Roses to win the 2016 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes this afternoon and was quick to lay the praise on the class of the two-year-old and Gai Waterhouse’s training performance.
“She’s a Sydney galloper so I was keen to be near the outside rail,” Melham said.
“I don’t know if there’s a lot in this track today but certainly a little juice in it, which really suited her.
“We went a bit quick the other day so I just rode her a little bit slower today which enabled her to give a really good turn of foot to the line.
“She’d had the two runs in this time and she’s hard-fit and I was quietly confident she’d run well today and she didn’t let me down.”
Stable representative for Waterhouse, Adrian Bott revealed a return to Sydney for major two-year-old targets this autumn will likely be the result of Thyme For Roses’ win in the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes.
“She’s shown a lot of ability right from the outset and it’s just very pleasing to see her top that off with a result here today,” Bott said.
“We brought her down here with initial intentions to run her in the Blue Diamond but unfortunately she struggled the first time around the Caulfield track.
“We’ll see how she comes through the race today but most likely she’ll be on a float back to Sydney.”
Punters who backed Thyme For Roses to win the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au have been paid out on generous $9 odds for success!
2016 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | THYME FOR ROSES | Gai Waterhouse | Ben Melham | – | 5 | 55kg | $9 |
| 2 | 6 | EMPHATICALLY | Ciaron Maher | Ms Michelle Payne | 2.75L | 9 | 55kg | $6 |
| 3 | 5 | SOVIET SECRET | Sam Pritchard-Gordon | Damien Oliver | 2.95L | 7 | 55kg | $6 |
| 4 | 2 | SELENIA | Robbie Griffiths | Jye McNeil (a) | 3.15L | 2 | 56.5kg | $5.50 |
| 5 | 4 | SO SERENE | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | Nicholas Hall | 3.9L | 1 | 55kg | $9 |
| 6 | 1 | CONCEALER | Tony McEvoy | Mark Zahra | 4.1L | 8 | 57.5kg | $3.40F |
| 7 | 12 | VAINGLORIOUS | Steve Richards | Steven King | 7.85L | 3 | 55kg | $51 |
| 8 | 11 | SISTER SYLVIA | Peter G Moody | Dwayne Dunn | 7.95L | 6 | 55kg | $31 |
| 9 | 10 | JOAN CONSTANCE | Luke Oliver | Chris Symons | 15.95L | 4 | 55kg | $61 |
