Melody Belle Draws to be Dangerous

Reigning Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands) will attempt to make history in the Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) on Saturday at Hastings, thereby becoming the only horse to win the Triple Crown at their Spring Carnival, and notch her ninth Group One win.

Unconquerable in the first two legs, both the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) and Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m), which she also won last year, Melody Belle has drawn sweetly in barrier two.

“Melody Belle has drawn well and she's not going to spend any petrol from there and should get a nice run just in behind the speed,” said Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards.

“She came through her (Tuesday) gallop well, licked the bowl clean last night. She'll do a little bit of three-quarter (pace) on the grass on Thursday morning at Matamata, as per normal with her.”

Adding to confidence in the camp, Melody Belle fought out a dramatic tussle when defeating dual Group One winner Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman) at her first start past 1600 metres in the weight-for-age Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) in March at Ellerslie, before spelling, which bodes well in seeing out the Cox Plate trip (2040 metres) in the Livamol. 

Another point worth noting, her breeder, Marie Leicester, said after Melody Belle won the Bonecrusher: â€œThe 2000 metres held no concerns. Tri Belle actually won this race in 1987, when it was the Air Zealand Stakes. Star Belle won a St Leger, up to 2700m, and Annie Higgins that I raced a few years ago won up to 2400 metres in the Waikato, and Counties, Cups, so I had no fears. I guess the only fear was the rain making the distance more like 2200m than 2000m, stepping up for the first time from 1600m. 

“I think, virtually everything I'm breeding in the Belle family has Sir Tristram blood in it, because we had a share in Sir Tristram. And we also had a share in Zabeel, so they either have one or the other in their pedigrees. So, that Sir Tristram staying, aggro, blood is there.”

Also at Hastings, Richards has debutante Wakefield Stakes (Gr. 2, 1100m) winner Aotea Lad (Savabeel), who finished second to stable-mate Probabeel (Savabeel) in the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m), contesting the Sacred Falls Hawkes Bay Guineas (Gr. 2, 1400m).

And, Savy Yong Blonk (Savabeel), a dual winner that placed in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m) before a good fifth in the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), entered for the Rating 82 1600 metres.

“Savy Yong Blonk has drawn awkwardly (14) at Hastings, and we also have her in on Sunday at Te Teko, so we'll just wait and see,” Richards said.

“Aotea Lad didn't get much room behind Catalyst at Ruakaka, but it makes it tricky from out there (barrier 11).”

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