Melody Belle Half-Sister Ready for Debut

Media Release - Wednesday December 20

Regally-bred filly My Annie Belle is set to make her much anticipated debut at Matamata on Friday in the Cunningham Decorating Services (1200m).

The three-year-old daughter of Snitzel is a half-sister to 14-time Group One winner Melody Belle and stakes winner Tutukaka, and breeder-owner Marie Leicester is hoping she can leave her mark on the track under the guidance of trainers Ken and Bev Kelso.

Snitzel is the sire of My Annie Belle.

She has had two trials to date, including finishing fourth in her 900m heat at Taupo last month, and while happy with their charge ahead of her debut, the Kelsos aren’t overly enamoured with her outside draw in the 14-horse field.

“She has had a couple of trials and I thought she trialled up really well at Taupo,” Ken Kelso said.

“She has unfortunately drawn wide. It would have been nice to have drawn an alley, but we are going to run her from there, it is going to be a lovely track. She has got a little bit of gate speed so she will probably go forward.”

The Kelsos will line-up another well-bred filly in Little Jeanie in the COMAG (1400m).

The three-year-old filly is out of Miss Opulence, a half-sister to Group One winners Sir Slick and Puccini.

The daughter of Savabeel has placed in her two starts this preparation and Kelso believes the Monovale Holdings-bred and raced filly is a good chance of breaking through for her maiden win this week.

“She was very unlucky at Te Aroha where she should have won,” Kelso said. “She had to change ground at a crucial time and stormed home and got beaten by a nose. She is a nice Savabeel filly.”

Kelso is also excited about Australian import Jolted making her debut for the stable in the Noble & Lee Chartered Accountants (1400m).

Advertisement

“She is a Deep Impact mare that John Sargent had in Sydney. She won at Newcastle,” Kelso said.

“He ran her in the AJC Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) where she struck a wet track and it probably came up too soon for her.

“She is still quite immature. Pinecliff Racing sent her over here to try and get some black-type down the line.

“She probably won’t be competitive over 1400m and won’t be competitive until she gets up to 2000m, but you have got to kick-off somewhere.”

Meanwhile, stable star Legarto will make her first public appearance of the summer when she heads to Matamata on Friday for an Open trial to help ready her for a lucrative assignment next month.

“She will trial in the Group and Listed trial before the first race on Friday,” Kelso said.

“She will then hopefully kick-off on January 14 at Ellerslie in an Open 1400m where the maximum topweight is 60kg.

“It is two weeks before the Karaka Million four-year-old ($1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic, 1600m) and it is to give her a look around Ellerslie as well because she hasn’t been to Ellerslie.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 24
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zousain Sunday 2YO Double
Zousain is surging to the end of the season with a double of new 2YO winners on Sunday bringing his seasonal tally of juvenile winners to 13.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Farnan Draws Level with Ole Kirk on 13 Winners
There’s a good battle going to decide the leading first season sire by Australian winners and with just seven days of the season to run Farnan is laying down the gauntlet to the long time division leader Ole Kirk.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.