Sirileo Miss led from start to finish in the Group 3 Matron Stakes over 1600m at Flemington, bringing up the five-year-old mare’s third Group 3 victory.
Melham pushed Sirileo Miss out of barrier one to take the lead inside of Barb Raider, and he was able to control the pace and allow his mare to settle into a rhythm with little to no pressure from the second horse.
As the field rounded the home turn, this daughter of Pride Of Dubai was still going strong, and as soon as Melham pushed the button, the mare kicked clear to put up two or three lengths, and the race was over by the 200m mark, as nothing was making ground from the back to cause the leader any concern.
Sirileo Miss was a $12 outsider with online bookmakers, with the race favourites, including Barb Raider, Excelida, and So You See, no match for the winner.
2023 Matron Stakes Replay – Sirileo Miss
With Simon Wilde not at Flemington, Ben Casanelia is deputising for Wilde and he spoke post-race about their mare’s victory in the Matron Stakes.
“You’re right Nigel, I think that’s four from six second-up,” Casanelia replied when asked about Sirileo Miss’s impressive second-up record.
“We were probably a little disappointed with her first-up, as she trialled really good and she was probably slightly disappointing, but she was good late.
“Today with gate one, Ben (Melham) rode her well.
“We were a little but concerned with her record at Flemington, I think she was zip from six goes here, but today she’s done that really easily.”
Ben Melham spoke post-race about the win on Sirileo Miss, which brought up a riding double for him on Super Saturday.
“It was a tough win, she’s a good mare,” Melham said.
“Bloody hard ride though, she goes keen and really hits a flat spot, so you really gotta make her do it.
“I was able to control the speed and kick away in the straight.”
Melham also mentioned that he would be “putting the cue in the rack” and was making his way to the hospital to check on Jamie Kah and Craig Williams after their fall in the fourth race of the day.
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