Premiership winning jockey Glen Boss is confident Lady Melksham is back to her best as she strives to make it back to back wins in the Group 3 $150,000 K S Enviromental Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Lady Melksham (black and red) winning the 2012 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Lady Melksham took out last year’s Cockram Stakes with Boss but after smashing her head in a barrier incident in the Listed $120,000 Carlton Draught Alinghi Stakes (1100m) on Caulfield Cup day, trainer John Sadler was forced to send the mare for a lengthy spell.
Lady Melksham started favourite that day but finished at the tail of the field behind Mrs Onassis and Serene Star but the extent of her injury wasn’t discovered until Sadler found blood in the mare’s feed bin the following morning.
The follow up examination by the vet discovered the mare sustained a cracked skull when she hit her head in the starting gates prior to the start of the Alinghi.
Lady Melksham appeared to be over her injuries winning at her first run for almost five months at Moonee Valley over 995m but then disappointed when eighth of nine over 1000m at Flemington on April 13.
But a subsequent trial at Flemington last Friday has convinced Sadler she is back to her best after Boss delivered a glowing report.
“He said she was going as well as ever,” Sadler told AAP.
“She is back to her best but we won’t know for sure until we go full bore on Saturday.”
Boss will again be aboard Lady Melksham at Caulfield and a return to form could see her see have a another crack at the Group 2 $220,000 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 7 after finishing fifth to Zurella last year.
Lady Melksham is currently on the second line of betting for the Cockram Stakes at $5, just behind the Mike Moroney trained Octavia how has been posted the $4 favourite following her all the way win over 1200m at Caulfield on July 27.
Peter Moody’s two mares Kneeling ($7) and A Time For Julia ($7.50) are next in the betting with Australian Guineas runner-up You’re So Good at $8.
