Written by Paul Vettise
Jamie Richards had an inkling during the week that Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) was ready to rediscover her Group 1 touch and that feeling became a reality at Hastings where she created history 12 months ago.
Te Akau head trainer Richards was pleased with Melody Belle’s progress ahead of Saturday’s G1 Windsor Park Plate and her fighting qualities at the top level earned her a remarkable 11th Group 1 victory.
They include all three legs of last year’s Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown series and she is now likely to return in a fortnight to contest the G1 Livamol Classic.
Melody Belle’s most recent racing had been across the Tasman with two unsuccessful outings in August and it proved a masterstroke to cut short her Sydney campaign to regroup and focus on Hastings.
“I just had a feeling on Thursday morning that she was back to somewhere where she needed to be and she’s a wonderful mare. She’s a credit to everybody that has looked after her all the way through,” Richards said.
“I honestly don’t believe that she was going that badly in Sydney. She was running into proper horses and without a lot of luck so here she is back in New Zealand and she loves it.”
“She was running into proper horses and without a lot of luck so here she is back in New Zealand and she loves it.” – Jamie Richards
Melody Belle sat off a hot pace set up by The Mitigator (Master Of Design) and when he started to come back to the field rider Troy Harris made his move on the mighty mare.
She lengthened stride when asked and in a driving finish she got the better of her stablemate Avantage (Fastnet Rock).
“It’s a credit to our team and to Troy who works incredibly hard. It was a lovely ride from Troy to have her in the right spot and she got the job done,” Richards said.
Avantage (left) Melody Belle (NZ) (centre) and Callsign Mav (right)
Renewed rivalry
Melody Belle and Avantage are both pencilled in to renew their rivalry in the Livamol.
“I don’t see why not. We’ll get them home and have a look at things and probably be back here in a fortnight,” Richards said. “Avantage got away cleanly today and she tracked the other mare into the race and has gone down fighting. Two proper champions and we’re lucky to have them in the stable.”
“Two proper champions and we’re lucky to have them in the stable.” – Jamie Richards
Upset G1 Tarzino Trophy winner Callsign Mav (Atlante) was a gallant third ahead of Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}), who finished stoutly, and the third of the Richards runners Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) made eye-catching ground for fifth.
“Avantage headed me, but my mare is so tough and she eye-balled the other horse and said you’re not going to get past me,” Harris said.
“I got into a beautiful spot and all credit to the mare and I’m just so happy to have been on her.”
Bred by Marie Leicester, Melody Belle was bought out of Haunui Farm’s New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale draft by Te Akau supremo David Ellis on behalf of John Galvin’s Fortuna Syndications for NZ$57,500 and has now won more than NZ$3.6 million.
She is a daughter of Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who is a half-sister to the winner and multiple black type placegetter Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
Melody Belle hails from a family that includes Rock Kingdom (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who was successful in the G1 Epsom H.
Melody Belle (NZ) as a yearling
