As soon as the barriers opened and the Dissident filly jumped cleanly it was a case of put down the binoculars as Ben Melham steered the three-year-old Turncoat to victory from pillar to post.
At her fifth start and some ordinary luck in her career to date, Melham didn’t take any chances with Turncoat today at Geelong as he went on to score a double of his own for the stable after piloting There You Are to victory on Sunday at The Valley.
“She was really good today, she began fast and relaxed really well in front and then just went at a nice tempo,” said Melham post race.
“She got going again before the corner and she was really strong through the line.”
“It was about time she got a bit of luck and she got it today and she showed what she can do with her ability,” said Melham.
“It was really good to get this filly’s maiden win on the board today and hopefully it’s the first of many,” said Henry.
“The race turned out perfectly for her, Ben [Melham] seized on her good start, was able to hold the lead and nothing wanted to challenge her so it worked out well.”
“She travelled well to the corner, gave a kick and Ben was quite adamant that she was really strong to the line.”
“Ben suggested 1400m eventually will be a good trip for her, but for now we might stick to 1200m.”
“She did it quite easily in the end, it was a step back from the maidens she has been racing in, but all they can do is win and she did that very impressively,” said Henry.
Turncoat is out of the Bernardini mare, My Five Eightyate, and was bought at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Murrulla Stud.