A change of tactics by Corey Brown has aided popular filly Melito to score another Group I win in the $500,000 Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Melito’s trainer Gerald Ryan said from barrier 13, the plan was to roll forward and take up the running, which Brown carried out to a tee.

“It’s great when a plan works,” winning trainer Gerald Ryan told Sky Sports. “We decided to ride her that way when there was not a lot of speed in the race and Corey rode her terrific.”

Brown used the entire run down the back straight to cross to the front, and once there, Melito travelled sweetly.

On straightening, it was evident Brown had a lap full of horse and when he asked her to go inside the 300 metres, Melito kicked strongly and was never in danger of defeat.

“I backed her right off from about the 800 metres to the home turn and I knew she would give me a good kick because she always given me a good kick,” Brown said. “It was more a matter of her not leading before and waiting for the other horses but too her credit she dug deep and won as she liked.”

Kiwi mare Wealth Princess came from back in the field to finish second with the Peter Snowden-trained Beaded rounding out the placings.

The win ended a frustrating run of four narrow minor placings at Group I level for Melito who has developed into one of Australia’s premier sprinter/milers.

“She’s just a great filly,” Ryan said. “What’s seven runs?

“You don’t gallop the tart of out of them, look after them at home.”

Melito will now head to the paddock and form part of Ryan’s strong team in the spring with the likes of Rothesay and Hinchinbrook.

“I’m just a very lucky bloke,” Ryan said.

The market – The winner Melito drifted out from her opening quote of $3.40 to $3.70 as did the runner-up Wealth Princess from $6.00 to $7.50. Beaded was $3.80 to $4 while Set For Fame was the best backed runner and firmed from $5 to $4.20 and Gold Water had her supporters firming from $7 to $6.50. The on-course market closed at 127 percent. Eagle Farm - Saturday, 26 June 2010
Track:Good
Race 7 Sky Racing Winter Stakes
Group 1 1400m
Time: 1:21.83. (0:35.09 (600m)
Starters: 12
Weight For Age Open
Prizemoney: $500,000 - 1st: $320,000 2nd: $100,000 3rd: $50,000.

1 Melito G A Ryan C W Brown $3.75 55.5
3f Redoute's Choice x Cloister (NZ))
Lot 613 2008 MM Conrad Jupiters Yearling Sale $600,000

2 0.8 Wealth Princess (NZ) B S Gillovic M J Walker $7.50 57.0
4m San Luis x Wealth Star (NZ) (Senor Pete (USA))
Not Offered

3 2.0 Beaded Peter Snowden L V Cassidy $4 57.0
4m Lonhro x Subtle (USA))
Not Offered

4 Culminate (NZ) S J McKee S Seamer $16 57.0

5 Set For Fame P G Moody B Shinn $4.25 55.5

6 So Anyway John Thompson P Robl $81 55.5

7 Happy Hippy John Thompson S Katsidis $31 55.5

8 Gold Water Ms G Waterhouse N Rawiller $6.50 57.0

9 Acquired (NZ) R L Heathcote B El-Issa $51 57.0

10 Deer Valley S P Ryan D Nikolic $31 55.5

11 Messenger A J Cummings J Byrne $41 57.0

12 Prima Nova A J Cummings S Scriven $41 57.0

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