Attica Meli

On her only appearance as a two-year-old Attica Meli finished fourth in a maiden race over five furlongs. In the early part of 1972, the Murless stable was badly affected by an outbreak of a viral infection delaying the preparation and progress of the horses. Attica Meli ran well on her three-year-old debut when finishing third to Miss Paris in the Fred Darling Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury Racecourse in April but then succumbed to the virus and was off the course for three months. In the summer of 1972 she won minor races over ten furlongs and one and a half miles before being moved up in class for the Group One Yorkshire Oaks at York Racecourse in August. Ridden by Geoff Lewis she started at odds of 13/2[8] and won from Coral Beach, with The Oaks winner Ginevra in third place.[2]

In autumn, Attica Meli was moved up in distance to contest the Park Hill Stakes over fourteen and a half furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse on 7 September. She started the 5/4[8] favourite and won again, beating the Galtres Stakes winner Carrot Top. Later that month, she ended her season by winning the Princess Royal Stakes over one and a half miles at Ascot Racecourse.[2]

Attica Meli was matched against male opposition in all eight of her races in 1973. On her first appearance as a four-year-old, she finished fifth to Ormindo when favourite for the Ormonde Stakes at Chester Racecourse in May. In her next two race, Attica Meli finished second to Roberto in the Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs Racecourse and second to Rheingold in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. In the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse in July she sweated heavily and became agitated before the start. In the race she led after half a mile but weakened quickly in the closing stages and finished fourth behind Our Mirage, Ormindo and Ballyhot. Timeform commented that they would not be surprised if she were to be "packed off to stud".[9]

In August Attica Meli started at odds of 9/1[8] for the Geoffrey Freer Stakes over thirteen and a half furlongs at Newbury Racecourse, when she again faced Our Mirage, Ormindo and Ballyhot. She reportedly looked much more impressive in the paddock than she had done in her previous races that year. Lewis settled the filly in second place behind the pacemaker Bright Beam before taking the lead three furlongs out. She drew clear of her rivals in the last quarter mile and won by six lengths from Ballyhot with the six-year-old Petty Officer in third place. It was announced after the race that Attica Meli would be aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but in her next race she was moved up in distance for the Doncaster Cup over two and a quarter miles in September. She started the 4/11[8] favourite against three opponents headed by the three-year-old Goodwood Cup winner, Proverb. She took the lead two furlongs from the finish and won very easily by four lengths from the four-year-old Bretton Woods with Proverb in third.[9]

At Longchamp Racecourse on 7 October, Attica Meli started at odds of 22/1 in a 27-runner field for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2400 metres. She looked unimpressive in the paddock and had to be pushed along to reach a position just behind the leaders on the wide outside approaching the straight. She could make no further progress and tired badly in the closing stages to finish in 22nd place behind Rheingold. On her final racecourse appearance Attica Meli contested the St Simon Stakes at Newbury. She took the lead three furlongs out but was overtaken in the closing stages and beaten three lengths into second by the 20/1 outsider Ballyhot.[9]