Superstar Te Akau Mares Set to Clash

Media Release - Thursday March 11

Bookmakers may be favouring defending champ Avantage in Saturday's Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie but her trainer Jamie Richards is backing Melody Belle as the pick of his pair.

Richards will clash the glamour pair in a race each has won in the past two years, favouring 13-time Group One winner Melody Belle over a middle distance.

Melody Belle

"In my mind, Melody Belle is a little bit better at 2000m," Richards said.

"There wasn't much between them at Hastings over the mile (when first and second in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate) and then Melody Belle was pretty dominant over 2000m in the last leg (Gr.1 Livamol Classic).

"I love both horses and they've both done a wonderful job but if I'd have to say which I think is going better over 2000m, I'd say Melody Belle."

TAB bookmakers installed Avantage a $2 opening favourite for the New Zealand Stakes but she has drifted to $2.10 as Melody Belle shortened from $2.90 to $2.50 on Thursday.

Melody Belle has won a 1230m trial at Rotorua since her unplaced run in last month's Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Hastings and will be reunited with jockey Troy Harris, who is unbeaten in three starts on the Commands mare.

"Troy is really happy with how she's moving and how she's going. She's tightened up nicely from the trial and she'll give them a real shake on Saturday. We're very pleased with her," Richards said.

Advertisement

"She was disappointing at Te Rapa but through no fault of her own. She was a little bit flat at the 600m but from there it was race over because she never really got any room."

A winner of 18 of her 37 starts, Melody Belle would become New Zealand's leading winner of Group One races if she was to win on Saturday, going one up on champion mare Sunline.

Avantage

Avantage, a winner of eight Group One races herself, is shooting for a fifth straight victory at elite level after success in her past four in the Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie, the Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham, the BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa and the El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki.

"She's in really good form. But there was no Melody Belle in this race when she won last year," Richards said.

"We'll just get through Saturday first but we have Australia in the back of our mind for Melody Belle, a farewell tour through Queensland. 

"Avantage has had a busy season but we could see her at Te Aroha (for the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes over 1600m on April 10) back to a mile with a month between runs or we could see her in the Coolmore Legacy (Gr.1, 1600) at Randwick."

Richards also has the first two favourites in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds, bookmakers installing last-start Gr.3 Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m) winner Sword Of State as a $1.75 top elect ahead of his Karaka Million 2YO (1200m)-winning stablemate On The Bubbles, second in the Slipper, at $3.20.

"They have both come through that race great - really pleased with both of them," Richards said.

"They are both good-doing horses with good constitutions and good temperaments. Sword Of State has a wonderful attitude for a colt, one of his best attributes.

"On The Bubbles is going to be much improved back at Ellerslie right-handed. He's unbeaten there and does seem to enjoy racing at Ellerslie. It's going to be a really interesting contest.

"We're going into it with two very good chances and I wouldn't swap my two with any others."

Richards will round out his Group One assault on Ellerslie with In A Twinkling contesting the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m).

"He had a good hit-out on Tuesday and it's been three weeks into the Cup from the Avondale Cup. He does need to improve a bit - I was a bit disappointed with him last time but it's hard to fault what he's doing (in trackwork) at home."

Richards will also have his eye on Australia with Savabeel mare Probabeel, the second favourite for the $A5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley after her last-start win in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

"She's in great shape. We're really pleased with her," Richards said.

"She's been to Moonee Valley for the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m) and the 1600m is her optimum distance. She goes into a $5 million race as a really good chance which is really exciting." - NZ Racing Desk

 

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Karaka 2025 – The Sire Break Up
NZB have released an outstanding catalogue of 1088 for their Karaka Book 1 and 2 Yearling Sales in January, so we’re taking a look at the leading sires and vendors to form a better picture of just what will be drawing the Aussie contingent across the Tasman in the New Year.
G1 Pedigree Watch - Plus Up and Comers
The spring carnival might be over, but the G1 action is now in Perth and a Queenslander took the top prize and we are also looking at a few other stakes-winners that hold the promise of more to come.
New French Stakes-Winner for Churchill
Currently finishing his seventh season of shuttling to Coolmore Australia, Churchill has had a productive year and sired his 16th stakes-winner of 2024 when progressive three year-old filly Some Skye landed the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau (1900m) at Chantilly.
Yulong Announce Sad Passing of G1 Winning Mare
Yulong released a video Tweet last week recapping their sensational spring carnival results and also revealing the passing of their dual Group I winning Frankel mare Hungry Heart.
Elite 1088- Karaka 2025 Unveiled
Hot on the heels of a record-breaking Ready to Run Sale, the cream of New Zealand’s yearling crop has been revealed for Karaka 2025.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 24
Here is the full list of 72 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winx Foals a Snitzel Colt
The owners of Winx have announced the champion mare has foaled a healthy colt by Snitzel early on Monday morning.