Tom gets another shot

TOM Melbourne’s pursuit of that elusive Group 1 success is likely to take him towards next year’s Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April.

The much- maligned sevenyear- old ( pictured), placed in three Group 1s this campaign, will be spelled after Saturday’s luckless run in the Kingston Town Classic at Ascot.

His senior part- owner, Terry Henderson, from OTI Racing, said Tom Melbourne would be given every chance to end his string of near- misses in elite company next year.

“I would say if we can get a nice little break into the horse now, and give him two runs or maybe one run into the Doncaster, that’s the logical race for him,” Henderson said.

He flew into Perth for the race after attending the Tatts Sales, confident Tom Melbourne would perform well, but he was wide for most of the trip and was well beaten.

“Today was certainly not his day,” he said. “It was unfortunate that he got posted ( wide) ... it was a pretty rough affair early on.”

Henderson said Thousand Guineas winner Aloisia would return to work within a week, with the ultimate goal a choice between the $ 4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes ( 2000m) or the $ 1 million ATC Australian Oaks ( 2400m) – both run at Randwick on April 14.

“She will get ready for the Vanity first- up, she will go from the Vanity to the Australian Guineas, then probably off to the Viney, and then The Oaks,” he said.

“We will nominate her for a few other races because she has got the sort of brilliance that ( means) we will certainly have a nom in for the Queen Elizabeth.”

Henderson remains confident Aloisia will be more mature in this campaign, after she went to the paddock following her shock defeat as odds- on favourite in the VRC Oaks.

“Under the circumstances, we have got no idea ( whether she stays or not),” he said. “Her breeding says she will, her racing pattern up until that stage said she would. I would be surprised if she doesn’t ( stay) with a bit more maturity.”