THE seven-year-old bay mare Melindagata returns to the track for action at Caymanas Park today for the first time since changing stables on November 13, when she was acquired by owner Patrick Brown free of cost from a losing ticket purchased in the landmark Power Wine race.

Brown was a member of the punting public.

Melindagata was previously conditioned by Ryan Darby, but taken out of the event for $350,000 and assigned to Brown as the owner for six months by the sponsors after his name was drawn from the thousands of losing tickets which were placed in a drum and drawn after the running of the race.

The front-running mare returns on a similar tag trained by Tony Kirlew and will be among the top contenders for the $492,000 Millard Ziadie Cup claiming feature of the 10-race card. First post is slated for 12:15 pm.

Among other top contenders for the competitive $350,000 – $300,000 1,100-metres dash are Danielle My Girl, Street Smart Annie, recent winner the imported Baby Jazz, Kamechi, Timothy Scott and Dancing Sam.

Melindagata has run her best races over the distance and having been well prepared for her re-entry at this level should use her good early speed to its full advantage in an attempt to get the better of her rivals.

But being a race with Danielle My Girl, Dancing Sam and Baby Jazz also possessing good speed, trainer Kirlew is leaving nothing to chance. He has assigned the mount to top claiming apprentice Doushane Gordon, who will slip 3.kg to allow Melindagata to come in at a handy 51.0kg.

Despite her decent-looking shot at the weights and in the hands of a quality apprentice, the daughter of Royal Minister will surely have to dig deep to repel the final rush for the wire by Danielle My Girl, Kamechi, Baby Jazz, Street Smart Annie and the down in grade Dancing Sam.

Melindagata certainly has most to fear from Daniel Mair’s seven-year-old chestnut mare Danielle My Girl. Trained by Desmond Shand, after taking a drop down the claiming scale from $550,000 tag to $350,000 on last, the daughter of Al’s River Cat was beaten only by the out-of-class Coleman’s Rock.

Coleman’s Rock subsequently went on to beat Overnight Allowance horses in his next race. Judging therefore by that performance behind Coleman’s Rock on December 19 and her eye-catching gallops at exercise, along with being in the hands journeyman jockey Clive Lynch, Danielle My Girl looks a hard one to oppose.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Flying Margaret (Aaron Chatrie)

Race 2 Royal Blast (Richard Mairs)

Race 3 Burning Cielo (Omar Walker)

Race 4 Excellence (Omar Walker)

Race 5 It Is Written (Omar Walker)

Race 6 Green Hornet (Richard Mairs)

Race 7 Bullet Line (Shane Ellis)

Race 8 Danielle My Girl (Clive Lynch)

Race 9 Mucho Gusto (Shane Ellis)

Race 10 Charlie Chaplin (Jason Simpson)