In a Class of Her Own - Tenth Group 1 for Melody Belle

Mark Smith - Saturday November 2

Reigning New Zealand Horse Of The Year Melody Belle wins Group 1 races for fun in her homeland but if she needed to prove something to Australians she did that in spades in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Group 1 Tab Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

Ridden by Opie Bosson for trainer Jamie Richards, the 5yo daughter of Commands came from worse than midfield to overpower Aristia (Lonhro) by one and a half lengths with Spanish Reef (Lope de Vega) a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third.

It was the tenth Group 1 for Melody Belle who won the Group II BRC Sires' Produce Stakes on a heavy track at Eagle Farm at her first start in Australia but had been out of a place in three subsequent starts in Australia.

All so easy for Melody Belle in Empire Rose Stakes - image Grant Courtney

All so easy for Melody Belle in Empire Rose Stakes - image Grant Courtney

It was the seventh Group 1 in 2019 and there is not a horse that has won more at the elite level worldwide this year.

“She’s great mare and while horses she was beating in New Zealand may be questionable she can only beat what’s in front of her and she has been doing that really well,” Richards said.  

"This is awesome, this is what it's all about. We're proud Kiwis and we're happy to be over here representing the country.

“She’s so versatile she can go back and relax like today or she can use a barrier and go forward if she draws a gate so she's a fabulous horse and been so good for my career.

"Gingernuts winning the Rosehill Guineas was pretty special but to come to Melbourne in the spring and be competitive after a frustrating run of placings in Group Ones, it's really good to get the monkey off the back."

Melody Belle advances her record to 15 wins and 3 thirds from 25 starts with earnings of $2,516,918.

Bred by Marie Leicester and raced by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, Melody Belle was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $57,500 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Haunui Farm.

A member of the famous Belle family, Melody Belle is the first foal to race out of the winning Iffraaj (GB) Meleka Belle was the last foal from the Sir Tristram mare Empress Belle a homebred Leicester’s father James Sarten.

Empress Belle left 15 foals with 11 winners from 13 to race  including the stakes-placed winners Tsarina Belle, Desert Rain, Kiwinsky and Housemaster.

Andrew Williams Bloodstock purchased a Tavistock filly out of Meleka Belle for $3009,000 at the 2019 NZB Karaka Book 1.

Meleka Belle was not covered last season.

Race Result - Empire Rose Stakes Gr1 1600m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:37.78
1
Melody Belle
- 5m Commands (AUS) x Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: O P Bosson 57
2
1.5
Aristia
- 4m Lonhro (AUS) x Nakaaya (AUS) (Tiger Hill (IRE))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Craig Williams 57
3
3.3
Spanish Reef
- 6m Lope De Vega (IRE) x Lemon Reef (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid (USA))
Tnr: K M Keys Rdr: M Zahra 57
4
4.1
Princess Jenni
- 4m High Chaparral (IRE) x Glitzabeel (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: D R Brideoake Rdr: D Oliver 57
5
6.6
Baccarat Baby
- 4m Casino Prince (AUS) x Meerlust (AUS) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: David Vandyke Rdr: M Hellyer 57
6
7.4
Noire
- 6m Foxwedge (AUS) x Valadon (AUS) (Woodman (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M J Walker 57
7
7.5
Pohutukawa
- 4m Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Lumina (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 57
8
7.6
Miss Siska
- 6m So You Think (NZ) x Sing Hallelujah (AUS) (Is It True (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Ms L J Meech 57
9
8.9
Nettoyer
- 6m Sebring (AUS) x Cleanup (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: Ms W Roche Rdr: B Rawiller 57
10
10.9
Fidelia
- 4m Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Fidele (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: R D Griffiths Rdr: J Mott 57
11
11.1
Angelic Ruler
- 4m Universal Ruler (AUS) x Tip The Angel (AUS) (Tip The Pro (AUS))
Tnr: D & B Pearce Rdr: B Prebble 57
12
11.4
Invincibella
- 6m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Abscond (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: John Allen 57
13
11.9
Savatiano
- 5m Street Cry (IRE) x Retsina (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Doyle 57
14
15.2
Spanish Whisper
- 4m Lope De Vega (IRE) x Cutting Remark (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: D Dunn 57
15
20.2
Amphitrite
- 4m Sebring (AUS) x Ocean Dream (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: L Nolen 57
16
26.2
Naivasha
- 5m Starcraft (NZ) x Durban (AUS) (Helenus (AUS))
Tnr: P G Carey Rdr: R Mc Leod 57
More Reading...
Bonny Grey Mare Wins G3 Strickland
Last December at Ascot, popular grey mare Admiration Express (My Admiration) nearly caused the upset result of the year when she charged home at odds of 100/1 in the G1 Northerly Stakes for second behind Victorian raider Light Infantry Man.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
A Written Tycoon Filly for Melody Belle
The 14-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle foaled a Written Tycoon filly at Yulong Stud on Saturday night.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.