Jamie Melham reflects on past and present after Sandown win
Jockey Jamie Melham mentioned feeling her age after partnering the Adelaide-based galloper Pretty Baby to victory in a Stakes race at Sandown.
While Melham's career has since soared to greater heights, she fondly remembers guiding Louisiana to a win at Strathalbyn in 2016.
Louisiana, the dam of Pretty Baby, delivered an impressive 3-¾ length win in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1300m) at Sandown on Saturday, solidifying her status as a leading contender for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 17.
Starting as a $5.50 chance, Pretty Baby finished ahead of the $3.90 favourite Ghana's Akan, with Portinari ($4) a further half-neck away in third position.
"The owners reminded me, I feel really old, as I used to ride the mum a lot," Melham shared.
"She was a bit difficult, and this filly is the same, but she's got a lot more talent.
"She's something else this horse."
Melham had reviewed Pretty Baby's previous performances in Adelaide and noted that the filly had a habit of misbehaving during her races.
"She looked like she was doing things wrong, hanging out, hanging in back in Adelaide, and today she was a little professional," Melham observed.
"She did everything right, I stopped the whip just because I know she has a tendency to lay in but she never gave me that feel today.
"She's improved a lot since her last start, but she's got a lot more improvement in her."
Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle train Pretty Baby at Morphettville.
Richards is no stranger to Melbourne racing, having trained Gytrash to claim the 2020 Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.
A further Group 1 success is within reach, with Moyle being a relatively new partner in the training stable.
Moyle commented that the training team has high hopes for the filly and was delighted to see her perform so well on her Melbourne debut.
Pretty Baby was making her sixth appearance since May, and Moyle explained that the filly had been given a three-week break after her Listed victory at Morphettville Parks in late June.
"Her first win was 1050 (metres), and it was really a trial for her as with the weather we couldn't get a trial into her," Moyle explained.
"We're pretty happy with how things are going and let's hope they keep going that way."
Moyle indicated that Pretty Baby might participate in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 19, or alternatively be saved for the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes over the same distance eight days later.
Punters considering the Thousand Guineas can find competitive racing betting markets at online bookmakers.
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