Ding Dong Beautiful Belle

Champion Two-Year-Old Melody Belle (3 f Commands - Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) became the first Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) winner since its inception 10 years ago to win at the Karaka Million meeting a year on.

The Group One winner recorded her fifth win from 10 starts, and took her earnings to $913,000, after careering away to win the $70,000 Mongolian Khan Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m) by three and a half lengths for the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

“What a great start to the night and the sales week ahead,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis, who purchased the stellar filly for $57,500 from the draft of Haunui Farm at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson was aboard Melody Belle for her iconic success in the Karaka Million and produced another polished ride, in the trail, clear on straightening, and she was untouched to sprint clear of her rivals.

On Good3 footing, Melody Belle ran the 1200 metres in 1:09.4, last 600m in 34.7, and as favourite returned $1.90 & $1.20 on the TAB tote. She paraded in magnificent order beforehand, looked very fit, and was raring to go following a superb preliminary.

A winner of $250,000 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) in May at Eagle Farm racecourse in Brisbane, towards the end of her two-year-old season, Melody Belle opted to bypass the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Listed, 1600m) after leading and being squeezed out late in the Sistema Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 1 January at Ellerslie.

After discussion with David Ellis, Fortuna's John Galvin made the difficult decision not to tackle the million-dollar race, but rather contest this race.

“He understands horses well and knows he's got a filly that will get a mile, but she's not ready for a mile yet. He's sensible enough to do the right thing."

Te Akau principal David Ellis has been the leading buyer of yearlings for the past twelve years at Karaka, purchasing horses to win 21 stakes races in the past twelve months, seven of those group ones, while trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, premiership winners 2015/16, recorded their 42^nd win for the season.

“I remember first seeing this filly at Haunui Farm,” Ellis said. She was bred by one the best breeders in New Zealand, the Sarten family, and I just fell in love the moment I saw her.

“She is by a great Australian stallion in Commands, from one of the best female families in New Zealand, and I was just so thrilled that we got the name Melody Belle, because Melody Belle was a filly that I watched racing in the ‘70s and she was absolutely top-class. She was by Taipan II and raced by Marie Leicester, who bred this filly, and her parents Jim and Annie Sarten, and trained by Ray Verner.

“It's been a huge thrill to have chosen a filly that I really knew the background of and seeing the success she's had on the track. For her to be crowned Champion Two-Year-Old was special, and now back racing brilliantly again as a three-year-old is fantastic.

Co-trainer Jamie Richards said: “It was a really good effort from her. Things just hadn't gone her way in the first couple of starts (this season), but back to her own age group and I think importantly she was able to get a bit of cover. She really finished off and it was a great way to start the night.

“She's taken really good improvement from her first couple of runs, things hadn't gone her way, pattern of the race, no cover, and things like that, but we thought she'd improved at home and she showed it here today.”

Richards said upcoming assignments were not set in concrete for Melody Belle, and that manager John Galvin was keen to see her race again in Australia.

“We will take our time, make some plans and she is a lovely horse that Dave (Ellis) bought a couple of years ago at Karaka, and this is what it's all about.

John Galvin said: “She was bought by David Ellis. He selected her and he's an expert at the job. And a big thanks to trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards. It's never easy to train a good horse, there are always expectations and they have got her back to her best.

“And to her strapper Kerry Jones and all the staff at Te Akau, thank you very much for all your efforts, you do a great job.”

Melody Belle has a half-sister by Not A Single Doubt (Lot 371) in Book 1 at the NZB Yearling Sales, commencing 5 p.m. 28 January at Karaka.

Melody Belle was strapped by Kerry Jones.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz