First Stakes Wins for Owners Frank Meli and Jim and Graham Bruce

The screams were deafening as the 2-year-old filly IL MALOCCHIO charged past Sunpsprite to win the $100,00 Victorian Queen Stakes at Woodbine September 27. Franco, ‘Frank’ Meli and his group went bananas as his homebred Souper Speedy filly went on to win the 7 1/2 furlong turf race, the first stakes win for Meli who bred the filly.

Her time of 1:30.87 was quicker than the clocking the colts went two races later in the Bull Page Stakes.

“This is so special for us,” said Meli. “I had so much help with this horse; John Carey told me to keep her and not put her in the sale. Nigel Burke broke her in Florida. Marty Drexler, my trainer, that barn is unreal, Jim Ensom, so many to thank it’s endless.”

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Meli lives in Orangeville and owns Johnny’s Pizza in that small city north of Toronto. His farm is called Silver and Black Stables after his beloved Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL.

“I am a huge fan, love horse racing,” said Meli. “It’s a part of us, it’s in our blood.”

Ridden by Sahin Civaci, Il Malocchio, whose name actually means ‘unlucky’, was making her third career start and was winning her maiden in the Victorian Queen.

From the Sligo Bay (Ire) mare Egbert Bay, Il Malocchio is the first winner from 3 starters for the unraced mare who was unsold as a yearling for $1,200.

Il Malocchio is the first stakes winner for Drexler in 2020.

Just two races later there was a similar scene on the Woodbine track apron as Jim and Graeme Bruce and Don MacRae celebrated the win by the colt AVOMAN in the $100,000 Bull Page Stakes for males at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf.

The smooth striding son of Old Forester – Cosa Rara by Tethra was a bit slow from the gate, was settled by jockey Justin Stein before putting in a late bid in the stretch to win in a hand ride in 1:31.78.

A $60,000 yearling purchase at last year’s Canadian Premier Yearling sale held by the CTHS Ontario, Avoman is the first stakes winner for the Bruce family who raced their first horse, Arthur’s Pass, in 2017.

“All the credit goes to Graeme,” said trainer MacRae. “This colt looked great at the sale, we were expecting to get him for about $45,000 but Graeme made the last bid.”

Graeme and his father Jim own a fruit and vegetable importing business (Avoman, for avocados).

MacRae was emotional in his comments post-race about the win, where the colt would race next and the 2020 season, echoing sentiments of so many horsepeople in Ontario.

“Honestly, it has been such a rough year for the whole barn. I am just ecstatic about today and we’ll worry about that later on.”

And MacRae also gave a heartfelt shout out to his wife LeighAnne, who is expecting the couple’s first baby, a girl.

Avoman was making his second career start and he was bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds.

AVOMAN, by Old Forester, has his ears up and he wins the Bull Page Stakes for owners Jim and Graeme Bruce and Don MacRae who also trains. (Michael Burns photo)