Trainer Scott Singleton achieves personal milestone and biggest win of his career with Melody Again in Group 3 Dark Jewel
Melody Again overcame a slow start and an interrupted run to take out the Group 3 $250,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) in a thrilling finish.
It was another boilover feature race result with Melody Again unwanted in betting at $41 – Summer Flame won the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at $61 earlier on the program – but Singleton 's mare had the Scone faithful cheering for another local win against the leading city stables.
Singleton trains on the track and had cause for dual celebration after preparing a brace of winners with Fiorsum Fred taking out the TAB Highway to give the trainer his 400th career success only for that milestone moment to be trumped by Melody Again.
Scone-based trainers Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, Brett Cavanough, Rodney Northam and Jeremy Gask also trained winners over the two-day carnival.
'That is like our Melbourne Cup,' Singleton said after winning the Dark Jewel Classic.
'I thought if Melody Again had any chance of winning a race like this it would be at home and when she was at the top of her game.
'When she walked into the yard, I thought if how she is prepared speaks for anything, she will run a good race because she looked so well.'
Melody Again ($41), under an inspirational Christian Reith ride, burst between runners to run down favourite Written In Code ($3.50) near the line for a half-length win with Dark Glitter ($17) a length away third.
Singleton admitted he was concerned when he noticed Melody Again was full of running on the home turn but was buried back in the field.
. @CoreyGoodSkillz pick of the yard gets up!
Melody Again storms home on the inside and wins the Dark Jewel Classic! ðŸ'Ž pic.twitter.com/cVM7Rb2Vz0
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025
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'She missed the start and then was bolting on the turn,' Singleton said. 'I thought this was going to need a good ride and which she got from Christian.
'I put Christian on this mare when she was being very difficult the preparation before last because he has such great hands.
'He has stuck with me and only came here today for the one ride. He's a very underrated jockey.'
Singleton revealed Reith rode his very first winner as a trainer on a horse called Reginald at Bathurst 20 years ago.
It was very apparent Melody Again's win meant a lot to both men.
'I always love riding for Scott, I respect him as a trainer and more so as a friend,' Reith said.
'He's been very good to me. I haven't been riding a lot but he is always giving me opportunities so it's a special moment to win this race on Melody Again.'
Reith produced a masterful piece of navigation on Melody Again after the mare blew the start.
'That is just her – and she is getting worse at it,' Reith said of the mare's slow getaway from the barriers.
"That's like our Melbourne Cup"
An emotional Scott Singleton speaks on the massive win from Melody Again! �� @singletonracing pic.twitter.com/gvuvRgtOFH
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025
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'When she does that, you can't kick her up to try and hold a spot because you won't hold her.
'If you get room you can't let her slide into the run because if you give her a bit of rein she will just charge.
'You have to have confidence in her, keep her balanced and if you do that, then that is what she can do.'
Singleton revealed Melody Again is closely related to his other Group 3 winner, Shazee Lee (2017 Hawkesbury Guineas).
'They are enigmatic horses,' Singleton said.
'But on any given day, they are very good. With Melody Again it was just a matter of getting everything right and today was that day.'
Singleton admits Melody Again is a tempestuous mare who can be difficult to manage.
'She is not easy to deal with so I have to thank my team who look after her,' Singleton said.
'It is not easy when you are going around in the bush and you are trying to dream big.
'You don't want to kid yourself either but we had the belief this mare was good enough to do that one day, particularly if we had chance on her home track.
'We are only a small team so this is pretty special for us.'
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