Royal Academy sire Meld was represented by his first winner at the Gold Coast on Tuesday.

The Mel Eggleston trained gelding Mini Meld accelerated to a five length victory on debut in the Highgrove Bathrooms Plate (900m) after being backed from $6.50 into a $2.30 favourite.

Mel’s brother Andrew Eggleston stands Meld in the Gold Coast hinterland at Numinbah Valley.  “I bought him off Lloyd Williams for $40,000 at a tried horse sale,” Eggleston said.  “I was originally going to export him to Thailand but there delays due to swine flu so I kept him here.

“There was another opportunity to send him to Thailand later on but I wasn’t going to let him go after seeing his first foals.  He really stamps them.”

Royal Academy sired Meld from a sister to Melbourne stakes winners Real Jester and Seidnazar.  He cost Williams $340,000 as a yearling and won at Ballarat and Terang before being culled at a Magic Millions Sale.

“I’m glad Lloyd didn’t cut him,” Eggleston said.  “I think he can make a sire.”

Mini Meld (4g Meld – Rhell Love by Forest Glow) was bred to win first-up and the Egglestons were confident he could land the money.  His dam also saluted on debut and second-dam Apple’s Love won by 12 lengths first-up.