Melody Belle Offer Declined

Media Release - Tuesday April 16

Champion New Zealand mare Melody Belle has been the subject of a significant overseas offer to purchase her as a broodmare, but connections of the six-time Group One winner have rejected the offer.

Melody Belle - Trish Dunnell"The offer amount was NZ$3.25 million," Fortuna Syndications Director John Galvin said.

However, after consultation between Galvin and syndicate members, the offer was declined.

"Clearly this was a very significant offer for our wonderful race mare, presented by a genuine and well regarded Australian-based breeding operation," Galvin said.

"Accordingly, the offer was put in front of the 34 Syndicate, embers for consideration – the outcome was that 100 percent of the membership chose to decline the offer.

"Members felt very strongly that Melody Belle had yet to reach her potential as a racehorse and should be allowed to race on under the current ownership until such time as she was ready to retire from racing.

Advertisement

"Members also expressed the view that she was a well-loved race horse by the New Zealand racing public and in what are difficult times for New Zealand Racing, any future success on the race track would boost the profile and spirits of Thoroughbred Racing in New Zealand.

"As syndicate manager, I was humbled by this response from our members and very pleased that she will continue to grace race tracks here in New Zealand and Australia."

Melody Belle won five of her Group One races in the current season and is all but guaranteed the title of New Zealand Horse of the Year.

The Jamie Richards-trained mare has won eleven of her twenty starts and will be set for a tilt at the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) when she returns for her five-year-old season. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
2025 G1 Cox Plate Field and Barrier Draw
A field of nine has been finalised for the 2025 Cox Plate with favourite Via Sistina drawing gate seven for Chris Waller and James McDonald, while one three-year-old has accepted to run in Nepotism.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Magic Millions - The Book
The famous US sports journo, Red Smith, once proclaimed that : “writing is easy … I just sit down at my typewriter and open a vein”.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
A lone 2YO went around in an 800m trial for two and three year-olds at Hawkesbury on Tuesday and the Snitzel colt won in good style carrying the Mulberry Racing colours.