Slice of History for Karaka Graduate Melody Belle

Media Release - Sunday September 22

Sensational Karaka graduate Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) shares a slice of New Zealand racing history after an effortless win in Saturday's $200,000 Group 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings.

Melody BelleThe win was her eighth at Group 1 level, bringing her level with Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire) for the all-time record number of elite-level victories in New Zealand.

A $57,500 purchase at the 2016 Premier Sale by Te Akau principal David Ellis, Melody Belle was crowned 2018-19 New Zealand Horse of the Year after scoring five superb Group 1 victories last season. She has begun 2019-20 in the same unstoppable form.

She won the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) on August 31 with a stunning come-from-behind performance, and on Saturday she was breathtakingly dominant.

Settled in midfield by jockey Opie Bosson, Melody Belle began to improve her position as the field streamed down the side of the Hastings track towards the home turn.

Bosson brought the hot favourite out wide at the top of the straight, and Melody Belle took care of the rest. She cruised to the lead and raced away, scoring by two and three-quarter lengths in a fast time of 1:34.17.

Melody Belle has now won 13 of her 23 starts and earned $1.867 million in stakes – more than 32 times her purchase price.

Advertisement

"Eight Group 1 wins – words fail me," said John Galvin, manager of the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate. "It's a great thrill. I thought her last victory (Tarzino Trophy) was fantastic, after getting a long way back. I thought today was a very clinical performance. She relaxed and settled, and Opie handled her perfectly."

Bosson, meanwhile, is now unbeaten from six rides on Melody Belle.

"She's just amazing," the champion jockey said. "Right from her 2-year-old days, all the way through to now. Jamie and the team at Te Akau have done a great job, and for her to just keep winning the way she has, it's amazing.

"She's got that will to win. Every time you go out on her, she gives you 110%. If she ever does run a bad race, there's obviously something wrong.

"We got into a good spot today. They went quite hard in front, so I ended up going back a spot from where I'd originally planned. I also got going a little bit earlier than I had planned, but she was just going too well."

Vendor Haunui Farm
Purchaser Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)
Breeding Commands – Meleka Belle
Sale Lot 395, 2016 Premier Sale, $57,500
Bred by Mrs N M Leicester

NZB Release
Advertisment
More Reading...
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 4
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.
New Winner for Bivouac
Godolphin have been  enjoying a winning run with their late season juveniles and it continued at Geelong on Thursday where Bivouac gelding Loving opened his account.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett 2YOs on the March
Wootton Bassett’s star Northern Hemisphere two year-old Albert Einstein has been ruled out of Royal Ascot with a sprained joint that will require a few weeks off, but the red hot sire added two more talented debut winning juvenile colts at The Curragh overnight.