Blueblood 4YO There You Are made it win number three of his short career today at The Valley as he took out the Adapt Australia Handicap in style.
The son of Redoute’s Choice was given a perfect ride from Ben Melham, who from barrier nine didn’t panic when he found himself three wide without cover for most of the race. The Valley track had chopped up on the inside after eight previous races and Melham knew where the best running was and that his horse would relish the cleaner ground on the heavy surface.
“He did a good job this horse, he has always shown that he has had a liking for wet tracks and he just didn’t have the best of luck first-up at Geelong, and he probably needed that run anyway,” Henry told Racing.Com post-race.
“Ben [Melham] identified prior to the race that he thought there would be no disadvantage in sitting three wide without cover as he thought that might be the best part of the track anyway, and as it turned out he was able to loop them and round them up pretty well,” said Henry.
“He was good today, there was good speed up front and I was able to find the right part of the track and he travelled lovely through the ground,” said jockey Ben Melham.
“I got going a bit early on the leaders and he had the last crack at them and he was very effective on the ground and with that [first] run under his belt he was much better today.”
The win today at The Valley, albeit a transferred provincial meeting from Ballarat, might be a step forward to a better class of race for There You Are, with the winter months providing the potential for the 4YO to shine at metro grade.
“We had him pegged as a good Saturday class horse, but he went into the wilderness a bit there, but I do think he should get to Saturday class at this time of year, at least on the wet tracks anyway”.
“He’s got a few races to win I’d say”.
A win at The Valley, metro meeting or not, is still one to savour.