Melody Belle Reigns Supreme

Media Release - Saturday October 17

Superstar racemare Melody Belle celebrated being named New Zealand Horse of the Year last Sunday evening when she stormed home to take out her twelfth individual Group One title at Hastings on Saturday.

NZ Horse of the Year, Melody Belle, wins the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings for an ecstatic Troy Harris Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

The Jamie Richards-trained six-year-old was in a class of her own as she took out her second Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) in imperious fashion for rider Troy Harris.

The Commands mare had worked sensationally during the week which had her connections brimming with confidence leading into the contest and she didn’t disappoint.

Settled beyond midfield due to her outside barrier, Melody Belle was still giving the leaders a sizeable start with 600m to run. Stablemates Avantage and Prise De Fer took over rounding the home bend but Melody Belle was starting to go through her gears as she dashed to the front at the 300m with a powerful burst.

Advertisement

Harris had an armchair ride over the concluding stages as Melody Belle comfortably held out Avantage, who had also provided the quinella with her a fortnight ago in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m), and outsider Vadavar, who charged late to snatch third.

“They only went steady for the first half of the race so there was a touch of concern, but she was explosive in the end,” Richards said.

“I don’t like to say too much leading into races but she hadn’t put a foot wrong and she was awesome today, just a great mare.

“It’s a great feeling and the team at home have done a magnificent job with her. We have been under the pump a little as we have horses here, at Riccarton and over in Sydney and they just get on with the job and never moan.

“Twelve Group Ones, a Karaka Million (1200m) and a Group One win in Melbourne, she is just going great and is nowhere near finished yet.”

Harris was ecstatic when he returned to the Hastings birdcage.

“She went to sleep in the gates a little and I was happy to be where I was in the run,” he said.

“When we got out into the middle of the track and I had come off their backs, she just accelerated and was way too good.

“It’s very special to me as I do a lot of work with her and I have had some great success in these colours.

“This is right up there in my career and it’s just great to get my name in the book for this race.”

Syndicate manager John Galvin confirmed that Harris had had thirteen rides on Fortuna syndicate horses and had won ten of them, including four Group One victories.

“It was an imperious display and I’m just so happy for Troy,” he said.

“We’ve got a big crew of syndicate members here and we brought her back from Australia so we could have moments like this, so it is quite emotional.

“Jamie is an amazing trainer and at such a young age he has stepped up to the plate. He plays his cards close to his chest but I could tell by his demeanour he thought she would be hard to beat today.”

Purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate for $57,500 out of the Haunui Farm draft during the premier session at Karaka in 2016, Melody Belle has now won seventeen of her 34 starts, twelve Group Ones and over $3.812m in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Livamol Classic Gr1 2040m

Hastings Track: Slow(8) Time: 2:10.12
1
Melody Belle
- 6m Commands (AUS) x Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: T N Harris 57
2
2.8
Avantage
- 5m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: D S Johnson 57
Fastnet Rock
3
3.0
Vadavar
- 6h Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Vadapolina (FR) (Trempolino (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: C J Grylls 59
4
4.8
Dolcetto
- 8g Per Incanto (USA) x Our Shiraz (NZ) (Nediym (IRE))
Tnr: Ms S Kay Rdr: L T Hemi 59
5
4.9
Two Illicit
- 4m Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Gemini (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: L G Innes 55.5
6
5.0
Prise De Fer
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Foiled (AUS) (Snippets (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: O P Bosson 59
7
5.5
Ocean Billy
- 5g Ocean Park (NZ) x Cool Storm (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: W K Pomare Rdr: D G Bradley 59
8
6.0
Vancooga
- 4m Proisir (AUS) x Forty Love (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: G H Sharrock Rdr: S R Weatherley 55.5
9
7.0
Tiptronic
- 7g O'Reilly (NZ) x Tiptoes (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: C K Ormsby 59
10
7.2
Beyond The Fort
- 5m Niagara (AUS) x Stella Rossa (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: W J Thurlow Rdr: T D Thornton 57
11
7.4
Beauden
- 6g Bullbars (AUS) x Belle Femme (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: R T Elliot 59
12
8.4
Glory Days
- 8m Red Giant (USA) x Bilancia (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: W J Thurlow Rdr: M J Mc Nab 57
13
8.8
Sultan Of Swing
- 8g Bachelor Duke (USA) x Queen Cha Cha (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: J K Riddell 59
14
9.6
Shadows Cast
- 8g Per Incanto (USA) x Ages Past (NZ) (Slavic (USA))
Tnr: M K Oulaghan Rdr: J Parkes 59
15
10.4
Polzeath
- 8g Pentire (GB) x Arniston (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: M & K Murdoch Rdr: T Yanagida 59
16
16.2
Livin' On A Prayer
- 7m Redwood (GB) x It's My Sin (AUS) (Success Express (USA))
Tnr: W P Hillis Rdr: S T Collett 57
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.