The form out of winter midweek maidens can be deceiving but Mr Mellon could be the exception for Mungrup owner-breeder Gray Williamson.
Mr Mellon (A Lot) looked a serious horse winning the Unite Resourcing Maiden (1200m) at Belmont on Wednesday for Williamson and trainer Dave Harrison. Sooled straight to the lead from a wide gate on debut, he dictated terms with the help of a soft sectional approaching the home turn.
Clicked up a gear in the straight by Paul Harvey, he ran out a comfortable two-length winner over the favourite Call Me Invincible (I Am Invincible) and Gunning For Gold (Shooting To Win).
Mr Mellon (3g A Lot – Who Stole The Moon by War Chant) has looked the part since his early days at Mungrup in the Great Southern. “He was in a paddock with a group that turned out to be half-decent horses like Godspeed,” Gray recalled. “And a lot of people would pick him out and say ‘who is that one’?
“We will just take small steps at this stage. I told ‘Harro’ he could be our best horse by A Lot even before he started serious work. He will continue to develop and ‘Harro’ is on the way back from the Birdsville races so we will wait and see where we go when he returns home.”
Mr Mellon is the first named foal from Who Stole The Moon and she is a unraced daughter of G3 WATC Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) winner Danebeela (Danetime).
A Lot (Tapit) was record-breaking sprinter in the United States and was sourced by Williamson to stand at Mungrup Stud in 2018. Among his early black-type stars were A Lot Of Good Men (G2 WATC Derby) and Sir Dreamalot (LR Supremacy Stakes (1000m).
He transferred to Westbury Park in 2023 and stud owner Phil Ibbotson has announced A Lot (USA) will stand for a reduced service fee of $4,400 (inc GST) this season alongside newcomer Straight Charge ($6,600) and My Admiration ($4,400). For bookings or further information contact Phil Ibbotson (0429 341 211) or Claire Williamson (0417 914 605).