Kiwi Superstar Melody Belle Primed for Flemington

Media Release - Friday November 1

A sparkling trackwork gallop at Flemington on Tuesday has given Matamata trainer Jamie Richards all the assurance he wanted from stable star Melody Belle as she heads in to Saturday's Group I  $A1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

Melody Belle is ready for the G1 Empire RoseThe Commands five-year-old mare is a $3.40 favourite for the weight-for-age fillies and mares feature despite drawing barrier 13 as she chases the tenth Group One win of her career.

"She's in good form," Richards said.

"She worked well at Flemington on Tuesday morning on the course proper. It looked to be very good, strong work and Craig Thornton and Brad Taylor, who has been a big help to us in Melbourne, were both impressed with what they saw. They are very happy with her.

"We were going to give her a jumpout at Flemington last Friday but we didn't think she needed it. She didn't look like she needed it and her weight is good.

"With her recent racing, she's very fit and the month between runs is fine for her dropping back to 1600m. She doesn't let us down and her record suggests she's one out of the box."

Bred by Marie Leicester and raced by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, Melody Belle has won 14 of her 24 starts, including the Gr.2 Queensland Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm as a two-year-old.

She was bought by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $57,500 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Haunui Farm and has topped $2 million in earnings.

In October, she became the first horse to win the Hawke's Bay weight-for-age triple crown of the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).

"Her draw is a bit awkward for Saturday but she will enjoy the roomy Flemington track," Richards said.

Advertisement

"There doesn't look to be a lot of speed in the race but one thing we know about her is she can relax off the speed and quicken just as well as she can if she takes up a good spot closer to the speed. She's very versatile and we'll just leave that up to Opie (Bosson, jockey)."

Richards has made no firm plans for Melody Belle after the Empire Rose Stakes but was open to the possibility of backing up in Saturday week's Gr.1 $2 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), also at Flemington.

"If she was to win very impressively we would give thought to backing up in the Mackinnon but we've never backed her up before," he said.

"She's been up a long time and done a bit of travelling, so we'll put her first whatever happens. But she's in good health and sound and that's been her biggest attribute right through. Touch wood, we've never had to treat a joint or had a problem with her."

Meanwhile, closer to home Richards has runners at New Plymouth on Friday and at Awapuni and Pukekohe on Saturday.

"Prise De Fer and Weaponry will run at Pukekohe. They've got big weights but they are two nice progressive horses," he said.

Other upcoming stable engagements will see Aotea Lad tackle the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday week and Folk Dress contest the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton a week later, with Al Haram earmarked for the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup (3200m) the same day.

In A Twinkling, a winner at Te Rapa on Monday, will prepare for the Gr.3 Ssangyong Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe on November 23. - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
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.
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Spring racing is just around the corner and a busy set of trials at Randwick on Friday featured eight heats won by juveniles with winners including stakes horses The Playwright and Cobra Club as well as unraced youngsters by Justify (USA), I Am Invincible and Flying Artie.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
One to Watch – Gosford
Capitalist had a double of debut winning two year-olds at Gosford on Thursday both prepared by Peter Snowden and while the expensive colt Caesar got the job done, it was the filly that really had people talking.
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Justify Strikes at Newmarket with New G3 Winner
The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
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.