Exaltation Excellent on Debut

Two wins were the order of the day at Riccarton for New Zealand's leading trainer Jamie Richards and the team - the first, the little sister of Melody Belle ...

In a quandary recently with heavy tracks, trainer Jamie Richards got his timing right with the extremely well related Exaltation(3 f Not A Single Doubt - Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) making a winning debut in the $10,000 Helston & Associates Maiden 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton.

Scratched a few times off unsuitable footing in recent weeks, the half-sister to Champion Two-Year-Old, reigning Horse of the Year, and nine-time Group One winning stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands) had shown her readiness when drawing clear stylishly to win a trial on 9 September at Ashburton, but then had to play a waiting game.

Ridden by Chris Johnson, one of the masters at holding horses up for a finish, Exaltation ($4.10 & $1.80) began well from a wide draw (12) but in no rush through the early stages she was 10^thgetting to the course proper at the 600m. Under a hold on straightening at the 400m, it appeared a gap was all that stood between her and victory, and once Johnson navigated a path the big filly powered home to win by nearly two lengths easing down.

“That was a good win from a filly that we've always liked,” said Richards, ahead of preparing stable-mate Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) for the Cox Plate later in the day. 

“She was an expensive yearling that copped an injury as a two-year-old, which held her up and we've had a frustrating run of hold-ups with her. 

“She trialled okay in July, but never appreciated the heavy ground and we gave her a bit of time. But, she's through all the hold-ups now and can only continue to improve. We thought she was 1000 Guineas filly, but unfortunately just ran out of time and we'll just go quietly now.

“The team in the South Island has been through a frustrating period, but I'd like to thank Dad (Paul Richards) and the staff for continuing to do their utmost and hopefully the weather will be in our favour from now on.”

Richards suggested a likely target could be the 3YO 1400 metres on the middle day of Cup Week (Nov. 13) at Riccarton.

“She'll come home after that and we can get her ready for races on the other side of Christmas,” he said. “She could well be a very nice filly in the making.”

On Slow7 footing, the type relished by Melody Belle, Exaltation appeared to quicken appreciably, running the 1200 metres in 1:11.5.

Te Akau principal David Ellis had the distinction of buying Melody Belle as a yearling at Karaka, and following inspections was keen to purchase her half-sister, from the draft of Haunui Farm, at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Sale. Both bred by Marie Leicester, she is owned by the Te Akau 2018 Fabulous Fillies Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

“I'm absolutely thrilled for the people that invested in my fillies syndicate,” Ellis said. “Since we bought this filly, Melody Belle has won eight Group Ones. So, as you can images she's got fantastic residual value. But, it's a hell of a bonus to see her come out and win under a stranglehold. 

“The magic man (Chris Johnson) doesn't ride very much for Te Akau, but, boy, he's got a great strike rate for the team over the years. 

“It was a great thrill to see her win on debut. We've got two other nice fillies for the syndicate and just haven't had any luck with them, but their day in the sun will come. The syndicate has been so patient and for them to be rewarded with the win gave me the biggest thrill I've had for a long time.”

By top sire Not A Single Doubt, a son of the undisputed king of Australian sires Redoute's Choice (Danehill), Exaltation registered the highest price ever paid for a filly by the sire. Not A Single Doubt stands for $110,000 at Arrowfield Stud in N.S.W, Australia.

“I've been watching fillies from this family racing for the past 40 years,” Ellis said. “Their breeders, the Sarten family, and their daughter Marie Leicester, have always done a fantastic job and are really good horseman.

“She was a standout filly from the moment I saw her at Haunui Farm, a stunner. She took everything in her stride at the sales complex and never turned a hair.

“I opened the bidding at $800,000. The first time I'd ever done that, but I knew there were a lot of people that were on the filly at the sale and I thought my only chance of getting her was to be very strong. I bought her for $900,000. But, the real bonus has been Melody Belle winning a further eight Group Ones since then.” 

At the time of Ellis purchasing Exaltation, Melody Belle had won the Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) and both the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) at Awapuni, and Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Eagle Farm, Brisbane. Her record stood at five wins from 10 starts and $913,244 in earnings, which is now 14 wins from 24 starts and $2 million in prize money.

Exaltation has a lovely cross of the greatest influence on the modern day thoroughbred: Northern Dancer.

Exaltation was strapped by was strapped by Diego Montes de Oca.

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