breednet.com.au

Melody Belle adds further glory to stunning season

Craig Tompson - Saturday March 9
Outstanding race-mare Melody Belle capped a wonderful season when she beat a quality field in Saturday's Gr1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.

Melody Belle (inner) and Danzdanzdance fight out the finish of the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes. Photo: Trish DunellThe victory made it Group One victory number five in a season that has seen the Commands four-year-old win six of her eights starts and over $700,000 in prizemoney.

The victory also allowed regular rider Opie Bosson to establish a new record of 63 Group One wins by a kiwi rider, after he equalled former record-holder Lance O'Sullivan with victory on Yourdeel in the Sistema Stakes (1200m) one race earlier.

Arguably this victory is the best of an action-packed season for the Jamie Richards-trained mare as she defeated a field that included seven other Group One winners.

The Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate-owned runner had to do it the hard way as she looped the field with second favourite Danzdanzdance before they set down to a two-horse war for the length of the Ellerslie home-straight.

Finding something extra in the last 50m, Melody Belle stuck her neck in front to defeat a game Danzdanzdance with Rondinella finishing a promising third at her first attempt in elite company.

Richards bore a smile a mile-wide as he accepted congratulations in the Ellerslie birdcage, before hinting at some big plans for his charge next year.

"I said to the boys during the week that it was going to be good to see two top mares go toe-to-toe and thankfully we have come out on top.

"She goes to the paddock now, hopefully as the horse of the year.

"She will have a nice break and will be back in on the 1st of May. We will try to take the same route as we did last spring but hopefully, we might go to Melbourne for a bit of a look around as well.

"It (the Cox Plate) has got to be the target as hopefully the mare of the world (Winx) might be retired by then which would make things easier."

Melody Belle was purchased for $57,500 out of the 2016 National Yearling Sale by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis on behalf of syndicator, John Galvin under his Fortuna Bloodstock banner.

Runner-up Danzdanzdance pleased co-trainer Chris Gibbs who confirmed the Australian plans for his charge were still on.

"We're very proud of her as it was a huge run." He said.

"Congratulations to Jamie Richards and Melody Belle as we had her headed at the 150m and she kicked back.

"We were humming and haahing whether we would even come here, and I'm pleased that we did.

"We will see how she comes through this week but the plans to go to Australia are at the top of our list." – NZ Racing Desk


Advertisment
More Reading...
Mulberry Racing Purchase $550,000 Colt at Keeneland September
Australian based Mulberry Racing featured on the buyers list during the first session of the Keenland September Yearling Sale purchasing a colt by Quality Road for $550,000.
Empire Rose Goal for Melody Belle
Reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year Melody Belle will head across the Tasman in the coming weeks after becoming the first horse to win the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown at Hastings on Saturday.
G1 Manikato Next for Alabama Lass
New Zealand sprinter Alabama Lass will press on for a tilt at the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley later this month following her runner-up effort in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at the Melbourne track last Saturday.
Impressive First Foals for Don Corleone
The first son of outstanding sire Extreme Choice to find his way to Queensland, Group I performer Don Corleone proved very popular with breeders last spring covering 133 mares at Eureka Stud and his first foals are exactly what you might hope for.
Barneswood Farm Trans Tasman Strike
A trans-Tasman ownership double prompted long and enthusiastic celebrations for Ashburton’s Barneswood Farm.
$1.7million Flightline Colt Sets Pace at Keeneland September Day 1
The 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale is underway and as expected yearlings from the first crop of US Horse of the Year Flightline are lighting up the sale ring, while a colt by Widden Stud shuttler Cogburn’s sire Not This Time sold for $1.6million.
Eighth Group I for Kiwi Horse of the Year Melody Belle
Recently crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year, Melody Belle made it Group One victory number eight in emphatic fashion when she dominated her rivals in the Group I Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings.
NZ Horse of the Year Melody Belle Makes History
Megastar Melody Belle earned two slices of New Zealand racing history on Saturday with another commanding performance in the Group I Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings.
Tragic News from Milburn Creek – Vale, Secret Admirer
Spring brings so many foaling stories from our studs each year and while the majority have a happy ending, sometimes things sadly don’t go as planned.
Hunter Valley Host Latest Round of Thoroughbred Sport Horse Jumping
The latest round of Thoroughbred Sport Horse Association classes were run at the Hunter Valley Spring Jumping Championships last weekend with Darley’s late champion sire Commands not only siring a Group I winner at Flemington on Derby Day, but also a winner over the jumps at this event.