She may have finished about seven lengths off the winner and a similar margin from second place but Classical Melody did enough to win the praise of her trainer following Saturday’s Inglis Classic at Rosehill.

It was Brett Thompson’s first runner in Sydney for around eight months but that didn’t halt his confidence, declaring her as a placegetter before the jump.

In the end she crossed the line in fourth but it was only just thanks to a well timed bob from Taxmeifyoucan.

“The other horse sneaked up the rail and she had to come pretty wide – if that didn’t happen she would’ve got an easier run and would’ve got third for sure,” Thompson said.

“We were never going to beat the first ones but it was a good effort.”

He’s already pencilled her in as a future flagship horse for his stable and he’s confident she’ll be winning sometime soon.

“I’m pretty sure she’ll win [in Sydney] but it’s just trying to place her right, it’ll be later in the two-year-old season over a bit further,” he said.

“I do honestly think she can win a 1400m two-year-old race down there, I’m just going to keep an eye out for later in the season when they’re around.

“She’ll probably be a better three-year-old filly, I’ve said that all along.”

Thompson is the trainer of half brother to Classical Melody Hewentwhoosh, a horse that’s earned upwards of $160,000 on the NSW country circuit.

He’s hopeful this horse can surpass that mark but it’s all going to be about finding the right races.

The Black Opal was one option being considered but Thompson is keen to get to the 1400m as soon as he can.
“I just don’t know whether she’s got the early enough speed to go in those [1200m] races,” Thompson said.

“I just think she’s run more like a 1400m two-year-old the other day.

“If you can’t get up and get going early and be there with a bit of speed you’re just wasting your time.”

That being said he’s actually considering dropping her back to 1100m as well for the Wellington Boot where she could face a weaker grade.

“I won’t make a decision for a couple of days, you always give these babies a couple of days off after they run anyway,” he said.