Bowman to Ride Melody Belle

Te Akau is delighted to confirm that top Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman has been engaged to ride Champion 2YO of last season Melody Belle (pictured below winning on Karaka Million night 2018) in the Group 1 Surround Stakes at Randwick on Saturday 3 March.

“Hugh is a long time friend of mine and is always keen to ride a Te Akau horse wherever and whenever he can - for example he came across to ride Al Hasa for us in the Karaka Million and nearly got the spoils (Al Hasa finishing second to Te Akau's winner Avantage).

"Hugh was not available to ride the filly in the Light Fingers, and then of course was suspended.  Blake Shinn who we then engaged also was sent to the sidelines on suspension so the mount went to former Kiwi Rory Hutchings.  I thought she went a very good race for her Sydney debut to finish fifth against a hot field."