Racing: Melito back to brilliant best with strong win

SYDNEY - Melito put a forgettable spring behind her to set up an ambitious autumn campaign with her first-up victory over Hot Danish in the group two Apollo Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

Last season's NSW Horse of the Year, Melito failed to come up in the spring and was spelled after two unplaced runs behind wonder mare Black Caviar.

She was back to her best on Saturday, sitting off the leader, $3 favourite Hot Danish, with the pair keeping a gap between them and their rivals.

Halfway down the straight, Melito ($8.50) moved past Hot Danish and sustained the run to the line to beat her by 1 lengths with Centennial Park ($7) another half-head away third.

"This autumn has been all about training her to get a mile, which is why we decided to start her off over the 1400m," trainer Gerald Ryan said.

"On that performance I think she proved she can get a mile.

"She is in those 1500m races, the Coolmore and the Queen Of The Turf and, hopefully, then the Doncaster and who knows?

"I'd like to take her to Europe for some of the group one mile races there. They have some really nice races in England and a couple in France that I think would really suit her.

"I said she was the best 2-year-old filly I've ever trained, the best 3-year-old filly I've ever trained and I think she will be the best 4-year-old mare I've ever trained."

Melito won two group one races against older horses last season and was placed in another four during the autumn and winter.

Ryan delayed Melito's campaign opener and she was not a certain Apollo starter until a trial win on Tuesday with Brenton Avdulla aboard.

Avdulla gained the race ride with regular partner Corey Brown committed to Centennial Park.

"I'm very happy for Brenton, we've had a bit of luck together," Ryan said.

"I said when he won the Villiers on Dances On Waves that he was a young Nash Rawiller.

"He's really going places."

Avdulla was thrilled with her performance. "She towed me to the front, I couldn't hold her any slower.

"I let her go at the 300m and she put paid to them. She was entitled to get a bit tired and she also switched off a bit, too," he said.

Fellow trainer Les Bridge was not disheartened by Hot Danish's second which followed her third in the Expressway and said it was too soon to talk about retirement for the 7-year-old.

"She has battled it out to get second," he said. "She's not going bad enough to say we're going to retire her.

"And they didn't do any better in Melbourne today against Black Caviar than we did."

Hot Danish finished 5 lengths second to Black Caviar in the Schweppes Stakes in the spring and well in front of Melito.

Last year's Apollo winner Danleigh finished sixth, 3 lengths from the winner, while stablemate Metal Bender was seventh at his first start since suffering a bleeding attack in the Mackinnon Stakes in October.

- AAP