Melody Belle Brilliant

The Informant reports:

Jamie Richards got his solo training career off to a perfect start with a last-stride win by Melody Belle in the Gr. 2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa today.

Not only was it his first win since the end of a three-year Te Akau Racing partnership with Stephen Autridge, but it also came on his 29th birthday.

“It doesn't get much better than this,” Richards told www.theinformant.co.nz. “My first solo win, in a Group Two and on my birthday - perfect!

“She's a good filly this, has been since her two-year-old days, but after we missed that trial (at Te Teko) and then did what I thought wasn't such an impressive final gallop during the week.”

Second place looked Melody Belle's lot when race favourite Julius took over in front with 300 metres to run, and even as close as 50 metres from the line she was still only the runner-up, but under a strong ride from Shafiq Rusof, she found enough to draw alongside and get her head in front right on the line.

The margin was only a nose but was enough to take her record to six wins from 13 starts and just a few thousand dollars short of $1 million.

“I didn't want to pump her up too much but she's a real racehorse and she was given a lovely ride by Shafiq,” added Richards.

“This will take a bit out of her as she has had a tough run first-up. We will get her home and assess things but at this stage she will be going to Hastings next.”

Melody Belle, the winner of the Karaka Million as a two-year-old for owners the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, is now the $4 favourite for the Gr. 1 Tarzino Trophy on the first day of the Hawke's Bay carnival, September 1.

Julius, now at $4.50, would have secured a start with victory today, but is likely to rely on dropouts to make the cut for the Tarzino.

Authentic Paddy lived up to his label again with yet another big race placing in third, a length and three-quarters behind Julius, while Francaletta faded late to fourth after sharing the pace with stablemate New York Minute.

Last year's Foxbridge Plate winner Underthemoonlight finished fifth after dropping out towards the rear and then being sent forward around the field, but finding it hard work to maintain her momentum out in the middle of the track.