Exciting Camelot Colt Wins Melrose Handicap

The highly-rated Tabletalk (3c Camelot – Dillydallydo, by Holy Roman Emperor) showed his class when winning the £170,000 Melrose Handicap at York on Saturday.

Tom Clover’s charge won his second career start in May and, such was the regard his trainer held him in, ran in the Epsom Derby next time out. Last seen finishing third at Ascot, the Camelot colt stepped up to a mile and six furlongs for the first time at York, where he raced in touch under Rossa Ryan. Switched right three furlongs from home, he was ridden before the two furlong pole and led inside the final furlong. He stayed on well to beat The Equator (Galileo) by a length and a quarters, while Master Builder (Mastercraftsman) took third and Wild Waves (Crystal Ocean) finished fourth.

“That was extremely pleasing,” said the winning trainer. “He looked the winner the whole way round. He'd been shaping up nicely at home and he seems to be improving.

“Tabletalk is a very exciting prospect. He's a big horse and I think he'll make up into a lovely four-year-old.”

Owned by Abdulla Al Mansoori, Tabletalk was bred by Cottage Bloodstock out of a half-sister to Lonsdale Cup runner-up Drill Sergeant (Rock Of Gibraltar).