Mini Meld returns to racing after more than a year out due to a leg injury

TRAINER Mel Eggleston says Mini Meld has lost none of his speed and thinks he can go close to winning when he returns at the Gold Coast today after more than a year out.

Mini Meld during his win at the Gold Coast on November 21, 2015.

TRAINER Mel Eggleston says Mini Meld has lost none of his speed and thinks he can go close to winning when he returns at the Gold Coast today after more than a year out.

Mini Meld, winner of two of his three starts, will run in the Attwood Marshall Class 2 Handicap (900m) in today’s metropolitan meeting.

It will be his first race since finishing on December 5, 2015.

The now-five-year-old was full of promise back then after winning his first two races before flying home for second to Miss Tripod after missing the start in a 1100m race.

But a leg injury suffered while returning from a spell in May last year put him out for the whole year.

“He went for a spell and came back and hurt a joint,” Eggleston said.

“He was out galloping and just ripped a joint and it put him out of business. He goes back to the paddock and all of a sudden you have lost a year.

“He hurt one of his nearside front joints, he just ripped it somehow and it was either persevere with him or give him a break and touch wood he hasn’t had a problem since so it was probably the right call.

“With those joints you can bring them back too early so we just gave him a good spell.”

But Eggleston’s patience has paid off with the Gold Coast-based trainer confident Mini Meld ($3.20 favourite) can reproduce the winning form of his first two starts.

“He is fast. He hasn’t run a barrier trial but that’s the way he is,” Eggleston said.

“He is probably a little bit of a fresh horse anyway.

“He has drawn an awkward gate (7) but I don’t think he’s got to lead so it’s not going to be paramount that he is in front.

“I’m tipping he will be there, he won’t be far away.”

At his second start, Mini Meld won by almost two lengths over Always Sacred, who has gone on to win three races and was placed third behind Takedown in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas in May last year.

Eggleston said Mini Meld had the potential to win a metropolitan race in Brisbane but would wait to see how he fared in his comeback before passing judgment.

“Always Sacred is a good horse and he beat him well too,” Eggleston said.

“It was a very good win and he showed a ton of potential.

“It’s hard to put a wrap on that type of horse. I know he beat Always Sacred and it went on to be something.

“But I’d rather let him take us to where he thinks he is going to go rather then me give him a wrap.

“If he can go through his classes and win a few races then I’ll say he can win a good race in Brisbane. He has got a lot of upside on what he has shown on potential.”