Trainer Leticia Dragon predicted a better future over more ground for former Perth galloper Melting Point following his maiden Kranji win over seven furlongs on Friday night.
Melting Point was a two-time winner at Ascot (1400m) and Bunbury (1675m) for trainer Jessica Valas before he was shipped to Singapore.
After six outings at his new base, the four-year-old by Perth-based Irish-bred stallion Vital Equine had yet to visit the winner’s circle, but he’s never been far from the thick of the action.
The one performance which arguably put the writing on the wall was his last start a month ago when he steamed home for Glen Boss to run fifth to Aotearoa in a Class 3 race over 1400m.
Sent out as the joint $19 favourite with Lim’s Royal in the $80,000 Class 3 race over 1400m on Friday, Melting Point had a quiet time hugging the rails in a midfield berth. He only made his intentions known as he strived to come out of his pocket upon straightening up.
He did hang out under pressure when jockey Alan Munro steered him across heels away from the fence, bumping a little with the fast-finishing The Capital (Olivier Placais), but he still found the line well to just get there by a neck from I’ve Got A Feeling (John Powell).
The Capital lunged late on the outside but had to settle for third place another head away. The winning time was 1min 22.3secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
“Alan gave him a gem of a ride, and the horse won accordingly,” said Dragon who is enjoying a fairly successful start to the 2018 season, being already at her fifth success.
“This horse was recommended to me by a good friend, Sharon King. She told me he had a good potential, and I also liked what I saw when I took a look at him.
“Looking at the way he runs here, he should be even better over the mile.”
At his fourth ride aboard Melting Point, Munro said the luck of the draw was the winning factor on Friday.
“He was drawn to win tonight. Last time he drew wide (13),” said the English jockey.
“He was still green when he went through the gap. He could have found another length if he didn’t hang out, but it was still a good win.”
A winner of A$47,400 in Western Australia, Melting Point has already seen his local earnings outstrip that amount with that first Kranji win. Now raced by Tan Kay Chuan, Melting Point has banked in more than $70,000 at his new hunting ground.
