Melmich Seeks Millionaire Status in Durham Cup

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Melmich Seeks Millionaire Status in Durham Cup
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Photo: Michael Burns
Eurico Da Silva guides Melmich to victory in the 2017 Durham Cup Stakes for owners Stephen Chesney, Cory Hoffman and trainer Kevin Attard.

Melmich, a 7-year-old son of Wilko, can hit the $1 million mark in earnings with a repeat win in the $125,000 Durham Cup Stakes (G3), one of two stakes slated for Sept. 23 at Woodbine.

Trained by Kevin Attard and owned by Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman, Melmich heads into the 1 1/8-mile, main-track affair trying to break a streak. The chestnut gelding has finished second in six of his last seven starts, including the OLG Elgin Stakes Presented by Ontario Racing Thoroughbred Improvement Program Aug. 29.

Last year, Melmich, sent off as the 3-5 favorite, won the Durham Cup by 7 1/2 lengths.

"Any time you have a horse that each and every time goes to the post and gives it their all, that makes them special," said Attard of the 16-time winner from 39 starts who has $968,619 in earnings. "When you look at his form, it reads consistency. He's usually smaller and lighter than his competition, but his heart suggests it's twice the size he is."

A former claimer who has become a multiple graded stakes winner, Melmich will be going after his first win of the season.

Melmich finished second to Are You Kidding Me in an allowance prep for the Eclipse Stakes (G2) May 5 and then the Eclipse itself May 26. Three starts ago Melmich finished second in the Dominion Day Stakes (G3), 1 1/4-lengths back of Tiz a Slam.

"As for coming into this race, I've tweaked his training regimen in hopes of putting some more speed into him," Attard said. "I think he's going to run well Sunday. The race is void of speed, so I think it will be a jockeys' race."

Second in voting for the 2017 Sovereign Award as Canada's champion older male, Melmich has a huge supporter in Attard, who is in the midst of another strong campaign at Woodbine.

"He's very well mannered around the barn," he said. "I just feel very privileged that he came into my life."


Entries: Durham Cup S. (G3)

Woodbine, Sunday, September 23, 2018, Race 9

  • Grade III
  • 1 1/8m
  • All Weather Track
  • $125,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 5:30 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Melmich (ON) Eurico Rosa Da Silva 119 Kevin Attard 5/2
2 2Avie's Mesa (ON) David Moran 119 Josie Carroll 6/1
3 3Are You Kidding Me (KY) Rafael Manuel Hernandez 121 Roger L. Attfield 8/5
4 4Lookin for Eight (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jerome Lermyte 119 Mark E. Casse 12/1
5 5Florida Won (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Contreras 119 Norman McKnight 2/1