25-06-2025
Trainer Melody Cunningham to delay One Long Day return after terrible Caulfield draw
Ballarat trainer Melody Cunningham might have to wait a little longer to start working towards her hometown dream with stable star One Long Day.
One Long Day was a revelation in Melbourne racing over the summer months, progressing from two provincial wins in the winter to saluting in Saturday class at Flemington in January.
Cunningham has pencilled in the $500,000 Ballarat Cup at the end of the spring carnival as One Long Day's major goal.
'We'll see where he goes but the long term plan is that we'd like to see him get to the Ballarat Cup,' Cunningham said.
'That's our aim.
'We'll just place him where he fits in and if he goes all right in this prep, he can have a little freshen up and, if his rating is high enough, we can get him into the Ballarat Cup.'
Caulfield before the infamous barrier draw computer intervened.
One Long Day drew barrier 18 for the $130,000 race, prompting Cunningham to assess her options.
'I'll have to talk to the owners but I'll probably say he won't run from barrier 18,' she said.
Cunningham said she had limited options with One Long Day with races in which the gelding would carry a hefty weight the possible opportunities to start the rising five-year-old's preparation.
'There's not a lot around for him,' Cunningham said.
'I found that race on Saturday then there's one next week at Sandown but he'd have to carry a bit of weight in that too.'
She said One Long Day was in terrific condition for his upcoming preparation and had improved mentally in recent months.
'He went to the water walker when he came back for a month and did really well there,' Cunningham said.
'He had a nice trial since and I'm really happy with him going into wherever he does race.
'He's still a big kid and everything is still a joke to him but his racing manners are getting better each time he goes to the races.'
