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Exciting filly Smart Melody may be a surprise runner at Friday week’s Wyong Cup meeting. Kris Lees revealed he is seriously considering taking on all comers with Smart Melody in the $40,000 Springtime Benchmark 74 Handicap (1100m).

The Gooree-owned Smart Missile three-year-old was unbeaten from two starts last season; her total winning margin being more than 10 lengths.

Smart Melody delighted Lees at the Beaumont trial session yesterday morning, finishing a close second to another talented three-year-old filly El Dorado Dreaming (Group 1 Sires' Produce Stakes winner at Royal Randwick in April).

Smart Melody gives Brenton Avdulla an armchair ride at Canterbury Park. Image by Bradley Photographers

“She did exactly what I wanted her to,” Lees said. “I realise she will be competing against older horses in the Springtime at Wyong, but it seems the most suitable race in which to kick her off.”

Smart Melody (ridden by Aaron Bullock) wasn’t pressured in the 1000m Open trial, which was run in 1.01.42 (last 600m in 33.70s); the fastest overall time and last 600m of three such heats.

Smart Melody began her career with a blistering five-length victory on heavy ground in a 2YO Maiden Plate (900m) at Newcastle on June 9, then repeated the feat (scoring by a slightly bigger margin) over 1100m at Canterbury Park on soft ground on June 27.

Stablemate Zestful, responsible for an excellent performance at Randwick last Saturday, is also a likely starter at the same Wyong meeting: “She’s not retiring to stud just yet,” Lees said. “I’m looking at running her in the Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m).”

The Mona Lisa is a $125,000 Listed race for fillies and mares at set weights and penalties, and is the main support to the $160,000 Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m). Zestful was just edged out by Egyptian Symbol in last Saturday’s Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Randwick.

Miss Fabulass remains on track for her stiffest test to date in the $200,000 Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday week.