Jamie Melham getting used to new name

New York Lustre will forever hold a special place in the heart of jockey Jamie Melham after securing a thrilling victory at Sandown.

Trained by Enver Jusufovic, New York Lustre delivered Melham her first win since marrying fellow jockey Ben Melham last month, triumphing in the John Moule Handicap (1200m) on Saturday.

“It’s so weird to hear you say that, Jamie Melham,” she said after the race. “She was my last winner as Jamie Kah and now my first as Jamie Melham. That’s pretty cool.”

Starting as the $1.85 betting site favourite, New York Lustre fought hard to clinch victory by a nose over Shesallshenanigans ($4.60), with Bellinger ($11) finishing third, 1-¾ lengths behind.

This win marked New York Lustre’s third consecutive victory this campaign, following two previous wins over 1000m, including a recent success at Flemington on January 11.

Reflecting on the race, Melham admitted she may have misjudged the horse’s capabilities after the Flemington win. “Last time I thought she wanted 1200 metres and would eat it up, but today she wasn’t great at the 1200 and definitely peaked on the line,” Melham said.

“Maybe it was fitness, but I’ll put my hand up, and I was slightly wrong then. She reared in the gates, missed the start a touch and just got over-racing in the first 400 (metres), not badly, but it definitely affected her on the line. She was going to win by three or four, that was the feeling she gave, but she peaked on her run.”

Originally, New York Lustre was scratched from a race at Sandown the previous Saturday, with plans to compete in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) later on Saturday’s program. However, after reviewing the nominations and the likely competition, connections opted for the benchmark 90 race instead.

“She commenced the campaign in a benchmark 58 and now she is a two-time city winner and in a benchmark 90,” Jusufovic said. “(Owner) Mike Howard is quite staunch on placement, placing them in the right company, and when the noms came out for the Bellmaine, surprisingly it looked a task at this stage of her career. We had the other option, and it proved fruitful today.”