Melody Belle Chasing History this Weekend

Media Release - Wednesday February 10

Champion trainer Jamie Richards is hoping he will witness history being made at Te Rapa on Saturday when Melody Belle contests the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).

New Zealand’s darling of the turf equalled Sunline’s record of 13 Group One wins when victorious in the Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham last start, and she can stand out alone if she takes out Saturday’s feature.

Can Melody Belle break Sunline's record for New Zealand Group I wins?

Richards has been pleased with her progress since that run and he believes she is ideally suited to Saturday’s 2000m trip.

“I think she has gone the right way,” he said. “It was important that we had her forwrd enough to run well and also handle the travel to Wellington.  

“She hasn’t missed a beat since she has been home. She has done some nice work and I am really happy with where she is at for the weekend.

“I think it is her pet trip now. In all of her track work and all of her races she always runs around the corner and takes a long time to pull up, indicating that she wants to go a bit further.

“Her 2000m record is very strong and if she is able to find her Australian form from the spring, where she was so good in a Mackinnon (Gr.1, 2000m), that should have her being competitive on Saturday.”

Richards will also be vying to extend Avantage’s Group One tally when she contests the BCD Group Sprint (1400m).

The five-year-old mare was victorious in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) last month and Richards is looking forward to tackling a quality line-up on Saturday, which includes exciting four-year-old Levante, who was eye-catching when running home late to win the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) on Karaka Million night.

“It is a good rendition of the race with proven horses and up and coming horses. It is going to be a good challenge for her,” he said.

“Unfortunately, she has drawn the outside (11), which makes things that little bit more tricky. Thankfully we have got Opie (Bosson, jockey), so he will balance that out a bit for us.

Advertisement

“We would be inclined to sneak forward a little bit from out there knowing that Levante will be closing very hard, so we will probably need to pinch a bit of space if we can.

“It is going to be a tactical race, but she has gone the right way. She is exactly where she needs to be.”

While she has six Group One victories to her name in New Zealand, Richards said they would dearly love to snare an elite-level scalp across the Tasman.

“We would like to give her the opportunity to win a Group One in Australia,” he said. “We will just get through Saturday and then make a plan.”

In the following race, Richards is hoping quality three-year-old filly Amarelinha can take out the race sponsored by his employers, the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m).

The daughter of Savabeel has won two of her four starts, including the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), and has finished runner-up in her other two starts, including the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie last month.

She will step-up to 2000m for the first time on Saturday, but that holds no concerns for Richards.

“I don’t think it is any problem for her. She is three weeks from the Karaka Mile where she ran such a great race,” he said.

“She has done some nice work and she has got a nice barrier (1), and Danielle (Johnson, jockey) sticks with her.

“She has drawn the right barrier to not have to spend any petrol in the race, which I think the first time over 2000m is a big help.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.