Bought for just $57,500 at the 2016 Premier Sale, Melody
Belle (NZ) (Commands) is now a four-time Group 1 winner.
The quartet of elite wins was completed at Te Rapa on Saturday, where she
prevailed in a heart-stopping finish to the $200,000 Group 1 BCD Group Sprint
(1400m).
Melody Belle originally rose to stardom as a two-year-old, when she won the
Karaka Million (1200m), the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) and
the Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).
After an up-and-down season as a three-year-old, she roared back last spring
with back-to-back Group 1 wins in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Windsor Park
Plate (1600m). She returned from a spell with a brave third after a wide run in
the Group 1 Sistema Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie, but didn't fire in the
Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham two weeks later.
On Saturday she was right back at her very best. Hopelessly blocked behind a
line of horses at the top of the straight, she and jockey Troy Harris dived
through on the inside of Bostonian (NZ)
(Jimmy Choux) and Ardrossan (Redoute's
Choice) to win by a head.
"I must admit I gave her away a bit at the top of the straight," trainer Jamie
Richards said. "Full credit to the horse, she is just so tough and never gives
up.
"I don't know what happened at Trentham, but that is the real Melody Belle
today."
Bought by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis from the draft of Haunui Farm,
Melody Belle is raced by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate.
She has now had 18 starts for nine wins, three placings and $1.38 million in
stakes – 24 times her purchase price.