Melia strikes Gold again with Apache

Apache Gold completed a great week for Monasterevin apprentice Damien Melia when making all in the six-furlong Mallow Apprentice Handicap.

Melia (19) partnered his first winner just last Sunday at the Curragh when Sretaw landed a gamble in an apprentice race, and there was a similar scenario here.

The John Joe Walsh-trained gelding was backed on course from 5/1 into 3/1 favourite and Melia, who is apprenticed to Michael Halford, had his mount in front throughout.

The five-year-old gelding kept on well inside the final furlong to beat September Lily (6/1) by a length and three quarters, with Ucanchoose (12/1) another half-length back in third.

Walsh said, “I hadn’t heard of him until the other day when I was looking for a rider. I rang Dave Keena and he said Damien was a good young lad.

“I had Connor King booked to ride Longfield Lad when the ground was good but when the rain came it didn’t suit him but did suit Apache Gold.”

The start was delayed by six minutes after Missile Command burst through the stalls, unshipping Dylan Hogan and running loose before being withdrawn.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes