Darwin trainer Phil Cole’s Exact Replica records special victory in the Melanie Tyndall Memorial
A top Darwin trainer only entered his mare in Saturday’s feature so she could run for the late Mel Tyndall. But a fairytale then eventuated.
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DARWIN trainer Phil Cole only entered Exact Replica in Saturday’s $20,500 Melanie Tyndall Memorial (1000m) at Fannie Bay because he wanted a runner in the event named after his former jockey, the much-loved late Mel Tyndall.
And on an emotional afternoon, the script could not have been written any better.
The five-year-old mare produced an inspired finish on the straight to win by half a length.
It was Cole’s star sprinter Kronos who won the event last year.
He was just as emotional, but thrilled for the widely-respected late jockey, to win the event again this year.
“It means a lot to everyone winning this event,” Cole said, with apprentice Tessa Townsend in the saddle.
“Mel was such a lovely person and loved by everyone.
“The mare’s last run before this start was the Katherine Cup over 1700m.
“So it wasn’t ideal for her to go from that distance to 1000m.
“But I needed a runner – we needed a horse in this event.”
If the distance adjustment wasn’t ideal, the five-year-old drifted wide coming onto the straight, the sprint looking like frontrunner and $1.50 favourite Belmont Day would hang on.
But drifting wide actually suited Cole’s runner.
“She does have a tendency to run wide,” Cole said.
“But she’s been great for us – she’s barely missed out on a cheque in Darwin (12 placings from 13 starts in the Top End).”
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That includes an impressive third-placed finish at the Katherine Cup on August 14.
“It was a fantastic run and a fantastic ride from Lorelle Crow in the Katherine Cup,” Cole said.
“She finished behind a Darwin Cup favourite I Am The Fox and another very good horse (Budget King).
“She’ll go to the paddock for 10 to 12 days and then we’ll start looking at the wet season.”
In a memorable day for the Cole stable, Colhoun (jockey Casey Hunter) and Little Town Blues (Townsend) also saluted.
“We were unlucky not to have five winners – Looking For You was narrowly beaten (by 0.19 of a length to Chris Pollard’s Savaspur in race one) and Torchbearer ran second (to Gary Clarke’s Patriot Day in race three).”
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