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Cavalry Rose dominated the headlines in Saturday's Inglis Classic (1200m), but seven lengths adrift of the debutant winner another juvenile star may have been born.
Boasting his first Sydney runner since May last year, Mudgee trainer Brett Thompson declared before the $250,000 feature that his filly Classical Melody would notch a top-three finish and were it not for half of Taxmeifyoucan's head, he would've been right.
Neither horse threatened Cavalry Rose or second-placed Diamond Earth, who led until the final few bounds, but Thompson believes he may have unearthed a sprinter capable of surpassing the exploits of stable star Hewentwhoosh.
“The other horse sneaked up the rail [on Saturday] 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.
“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.
“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.”
Hewentwhoosh, a half-brother to Classical Melody, has been a country champion around NSW over the past few years, earning more than $160,000 in prizemoney.
Thompson's filly has amassed only a 10th of that, $10,000 of which came after finishing fourth on the weekend.
The bush trainer had been considering contesting the $250,000 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra in March, but may now opt to give the filly a chance over further.
“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.”
“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.”
Thompson is also eyeing a possible Wellington Boot (1100m) start, happy to go back to a shorter trip in weaker grade.