Memes back with a bang in Summer Sprint

The Jason Coyle-trained Memes underlines her autumn claims with a first-up win at Randwick.

Tiny mare Memes has staked her claim as a potential autumn sprint star with a triumphant return to racing at Randwick.

The Jason Coyle-trained Memes was the find of last autumn and winter, progressing from a Kembla Grange maiden win to three victories at Randwick.

She was unplaced when tried in the Group Two Missile Stakes at the end of her preparation in August.

But as a fit horse and the winner of Saturday’s Summer Sprint (1000m) she is likely to be given another chance at Group Two level in the Expressway Stakes in two weeks.

“As always we take her race by race,” Coyle said.

“I don’t know how far she will go into the autumn. A lot of that could depend on the weather.

“She is just as effective on firm ground but she has an advantage over a lot of others in the wet.

“She’s so small but she has a big motor.”

Memes was the $2 favourite in the Summer Sprint and carried 51.5kg with the benefit of Rachel King’s 1.5kg claim.

King let Hidden Pearl ($5.50) cross and take up the running, content to travel behind her.

When the leader weakened, Memes went to the front and kept finding, putting a length on Boss Lane ($14) who got the nod for second by a nose over Palazzo Pubblico ($6).

Fourth-placed Royal Tudor ($5.50) was the unlucky runner in the race with Blaike McDougall sticking to the inside and getting held up.

Stewards accepted the apprentice was riding to instructions but agreed he was unlucky not to win or at least finish closer.

But for King, Memes’ victory was well deserved.

“She is just in her own bubble, the Memes bubble,” King said.

“She doesn’t worry about anything else and just gets out there and does what she does.”

So far she is doing what she does better than Coyle ever dared think she could.

“She has raised the bar higher than I ever thought she would,” he said.

“So I’m not sure where she can get to.”