Country Melody was unwanted by punters before thrashing his rivals first-up in Hong Kong on Sunday.

The Written Tycoon three year-old paid $46 but won like an odds-on favourite in the Chevalier Engineering Hcp (1000m).  He burst through a gap along the grandstand rail to score by more than three lengths on debut in the straight-course sprint.

Trainer John Size admitted he wasn’t keen on the gelding’s prospects, either.  “I knocked back an offer to train him earlier this year because there was no room here,” Size recalled.  “But Robert Smerdon, who prepared him for Price Bloodstock in Australia, insisted I make room and it turns out he was right.”

Country Melody (3g Written Tycoon – Chimerique by Choisir) was sold to the Hong Kong Country Club Syndicate after finishing second to Hi World in a Cranbourne trial in May.  The winner was most recently fourth home in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington on Derby day.

Written Tycoon stands at Woodside Park Stud and he has several smart gallopers already based in Hong Kong including Trump, All Times Lucky and Robust Momentum who have all won races there this year.

Country Melody was initially sold by Tatura-based Rushton Park breeders David and Kayley Johnson (as agent) for $40,000 at the 2013 Inglis Premier yearling sale.  He is from an unraced half-sister to G1 Victoria Oaks winner Bulla Borghese.

His dam Chimerique has a 2yo Written Tycoon colt named Lightning Lord with Libby Haworth at Wangaratta.

Written Tycoon has sired the winners of 50 races in Australia this season for earnings over $1.64 million.  He reached the half-century when Tycoon Jewel scored at Swan Hill on Sunday.  And his Group 3 Healy Stakes winner Howmuchdoyouloveme is ready to resume after cruising home in a Rosehill trial last week.

COUNTRY MELODY