Mel's Big ‘Call' After Training First Winner

WINNING trainer Melissa Arandale joked today that she thought the race call when Epifanio won on debut at Grafton on Tuesday night, her first winner as a trainer, could have shown more emotion.

Mel's husband Mark is the famed Northern Rivers racecaller and Mel admitted Mark “was just so nervous” about Epifanio's race debut.

He should not have worried about the son of Pindari Express and Tribal Magic which was sensational winning by almost 16 lengths in a flying 20.15 in the 350m Maiden.

And, for Mel it was her first winner as a trainer, a role she has had only for the past few months after a long history of working for Northern Rivers clubs in a variety of jobs.

“It was a huge thrill for both Mark and I,” said Mel. “I had missed calls, text messages and Facebook posts all congratulating me.”

Epifanio, and a litter sister Teresita, named after lead characters in the Netflix series Queen Of The South, were bought as pups from Fred Swain.

“The bitch is even better than the dog,” said Mel. “She is about to start racing as well.”

Of Epifanio, he will back up at Grafton on Sunday in a 1-2 WIN series.

“They can go further,” said Mel. “The dog's run home times have been strong.

“I admit I was not as nervous as Mark prior to last night's race.”

Mel's only other dog she has trained is Gypsy Road which has been placed a number of times around Grafton without winning.

Mel's hands on the industry traces right back to 27 years ago and centered around Grafton.

“I started in the canteen, went to the race day office, tried judging for years in the old days of developed prints, and was always in the general office during the July Carnival,” she recalls.

“I got my brother Shane O'Shea involved years ago and now he is a full time steward in the Hunter region.

“And, I spent time working in the TAB on track.

“I fell in love with the whole industry.”

In recent times Mel has been swabbing steward at Grafton, then back-up steward at Casino and Lismore when needed.