| Ethan Brown left a lasting first impression on John Thompson when he partnered the trainer’s progressive three-year-old Melanite to a comprehensive win in the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1100m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday. |
| And it was a ride worthy of praise, with Brown navigating a path to victory aboard the lightly-raced son of Dirty Work from barrier nine. Melanite exploded away form his rivals at the top of the straight and, with the race won, he was given an easy time of it in the final 100m to win by three-quarters-of-a-length over $51 bolter Splash Of Steel. Thompson said the horse has always shown ability in trackwork and trials but just needed some luck on raceday. “11 of out 10 for the ride, he’s a superstar,” Thompson said. “I met him today, I’d never met him before and he didn’t know anything about this horse so he took everything in that I said and went to put it into place. “He was traveling a long way from home, he was confident around the corner and the others were off the bridle while he was still traveling and he gave a good kick. “He’s a nice horse, he’s always shown that sort of ability but he’s just been a bit unlucky in some of his races. “There are some great owners in the horse, they are great supporters of the stable and I’m very happy to get a win for them.” Thompson combined with Boomer Bloodstock to buy Melanite for $140,000 out of the Fernrigg Farm draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Thompson and Boomer combined again during the week when they paid $180,000 for Lot 356, a Brutal colt from Middlebrook Valley Lodge. Brown praised Thompson’s training effort to prepare the gelding for a first-up win in the lucrative maiden. “It’s the first time I’ve met John and I’m very thankful to him and his ownership group for the ride,” Brown said. “I found John a very quiet bloke and he left it up to me. “He was confident he had the horse prepared in the right order. “He’s a very nice horse going forward.” |
