New York Lustre will always be a memorable horse for Jamie Melham after delivering a thrilling victory at Sandown.
The Enver Jusufovic-trained mare gave Melham her first win since marrying fellow jockey Ben Melham last month, clinching the John Moule Handicap (1200m) on Saturday.
“It’s so weird to hear you say that, Jamie Melham,” she said after her win aboard New York Lustre.
“She was my last winner as Jamie Kah and now my first as Jamie Melham.
“That’s pretty cool.”
Sent out as the $1.85 favourite, New York Lustre had to fight hard to claim victory, edging out Shesallshenanigans ($4.60) by a nose, with Bellinger ($11) finishing another 1-¾ lengths behind in third.
Saturday’s win marked New York Lustre’s third consecutive victory this campaign, having won twice over 1000m, most recently at Flemington on January 11.
Melham reflected on her thoughts about New York Lustre following her Flemington win, admitting she may have been mistaken regarding the mare’s preferred distance.
“Last time I thought she wanted 1200 metres and would eat it up, but today she wasn’t great at the 1200 and definitely peaked on the line,” Melham said.
“Maybe it was fitness, but I’ll put my hand up, and I was slightly wrong then.
“She reared in the gates, missed the start a touch and just got over-racing in the first 400 (metres), not badly, but it definitely affected her on the line.
“She was going to win by three or four, that was the feeling she gave, but she peaked on her run.”
New York Lustre had originally been scratched from a race at Sandown the previous Saturday, with plans to contest the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) later on the program.
However, after reviewing the nominations and likely field composition, connections opted for the easier benchmark 90 race instead.
“She commenced the campaign in a benchmark 58 and now she is a two-time city winner and in a benchmark 90,” Jusufovic said.
“(Owner) Mike Howard is quite staunch on placement, placing them in the right company, and when the noms came out for the Bellmaine, surprisingly it looked a task at this stage of her career.
“We had the other option, and it proved fruitful today.”