Melody Belle - More Group 1 Glory

Sometimes on a racecourse a horse stands out, one who puts their hands up as the one to beat, and Melody Belle (4 m Commands - Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) was just that horse prior to winning the weight-for-age $200,000 Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) on Saturday 22 September at Hastings.

Sure, winning the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400 metres) on the same course three weeks earlier, after resuming with win in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) at Te Rapa, plus being $3.40 & $1.70 on the tote, were all pointers in her favour, but it was also the pristine condition in which she paraded and immediate focus as she commenced her preliminary that spelled doom for her opponents.

And what a win: easing down after pulling three lengths clear inside the final furlong to eventually win by a 1 ¾ lengths.

From the coveted one draw, Melody Belle received a beautiful trip in the trail and travelled sweetly on the bridle. Shafiq had her ready to strike rounding the home turn and she sprinted quickly to put the race in safekeeping.

“She means a lot to me now that's she won two Group Ones for me,” Shafiq said. “All the speed came from wide out and I just got into my spot. She travelled well and couldn't have been better. I hadn't done anything on her and she travelled very strongly. I didn't ask her to do anything, but when I brought her out she sprinted and found the line very well.

“Every track here is different, so you must learn and it's not easy here,” said Shafiq, the twice Champion Apprentice in Singapore.

On Good3 footing, Melody Belle ran the 1600 metres in 1:35.3.

“She's terrific isn't she,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “Barriers win races and very important today. Lovely ride Shafiq again, but she'd trained on beautifully, and a big thank you to the team at home that takes such good care of her. Honestly, it's outstanding.

“She loves it. She knows she's good, has a real swagger about her and prances around like she knows she's pretty good. So, it's a dream result and I can't thank Dave (Ellis) and Mark (Walker) enough for the opportunity they've given me. Dave buys the horses and syndicates them with Karyn (Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and John (Galvin) slots in there as a very important part of our business with Fortuna.

“This is what getting out of bed early, and all the sacrifices you make, is all about, and a great tonic for a pretty rough week,” Richards added, after having spent a few days in hospital.

While Melody Belle would now be given a freshen-up and prepared for summer assignments, Richards said stable-mate Our Abbadean (Lookin at Lucky), who stormed home late from last to grab fifth, will contest the weight-for-age $250,000 Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040) on 6 October at Hastings.

Claiming her third Group One victory, having won the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m), Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Eagle Farm, and Mongolian Khan Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m), Champion Two-Year-Old Melody Belle recorded her eighth win from 15 starts, taking her earnings to $1,236,406 for the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased the stellar filly for $57,500 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Haunui Farm, and she continues to become a more valuable commodity for her breeding future.

“I think the significance of today is owed to all the staff who has worked so hard while Jamie has been in hospital for five days,” Ellis said. “They all know who I'm talking about and they've worked so hard to get the results we've had today.

“After winning the race last year with Gingernuts and previously with Princess Coup, it was very exciting to win the race again this year.

“To win the Gold Trail and the Windsor Park at Hastings, and two other races at Riccarton plus also have a filly place in the Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton, is something I'm very proud of and hugely proud of the team who looked after everything while Jamie was hospitalized.

“Paul Richards is obviously doing a fantastic job in the South Island, with our team there and we're going to have a lovely team for Cup Week in November.”

Melody Belle became the 15^th winner this season for Jamie Richards, and Remington (Darci Brahma) the 16^th, a few moments later at Riccarton.

“That puts Jamie at the top of the premiership, top in stakes, top in black type wins, with a phenomenal strike rate,” Ellis said.

“Jamie has done an unbelievable job bringing these horses up and Karyn and I are both so grateful to all the owners that have supported him through the early stages of his career, and that support is going to be richly rewarded.

“I love working with young people and Jamie has some wonderful traits: his work ethic, ability to judge a horse and find out by getting into its head what makes the horse happy and what doesn't. He is a very good judge of a horse and he has a lifetime of experience beyond his years. He communicates very well with Mark (Walker) and me, has a great racing family one-hundred percent behind him, and has our really good systems and people around him."

Post race reports:

Sponsor Rodney Schick, Windsor Park Stud: “It's with great pleasure we are here and sponsoring for the 20^th year. We get such great support from Hawkes Bay. Congratulations to John Galvin and Fortuna, with the win by Melody Belle. She ran away from them today and it was a fantastic result.

"The Te Akau team: David Ellis and Jamie Richards, what a fantastic team you have at Te Akau and you are great supporters of the New Zealand industry.”

Syndicate manager John Galvin (Fortuna) said: “You have no idea what a thrill it is for me to bring this mare here for a Group One double.

“Thank you to Marie Leicester, the breeder, for putting this filly up for sale. David Ellis, for selecting this filly at Karaka, and he really does have a great eye for a horse. Jamie Richards, what a fantastic young trainer this guy is turning out to be, wonderful results. Teina Walters, for strapping the horse and all the staff for their efforts at Te Akau stables at Matamata.

“Thank you to Windsor Park Stud for sponsoring this great race and I've had a long association with these guys.

“Shafiq and I go back a long way and I know he had a good horse under him, but that was a gem of a ride.

“And the 34 syndicate members who are all shareholders in Melody Belle. About 20 are here today and well done to all you guys, it's a pleasure to be working with you and having so much fun together.”

Trainer Jamie Richards said: “It's a great honour to be up here receiving another Group One with this fantastic mare. It's been an outstanding start for me, training in my own right, but I can't do it on my own and we've got a fantastic team of staff. Everybody in the middle barn that looks after her, that rides her, swims her, grooms and does everything with her.

“I'd like to thank Marie Leicester for breeding her. She's become a good friend and breeds lovely horses. And, Shafiq, I couldn't be happier for him. He puts in the hard yards, rides a lot of work, and a very important part of our team.

“To John Galvin, this is what racing is all about, getting these people interested in racing horses and enjoying the thrills of winning. And thank you to Rodney (Schick) and the Windsor Park team because we can't do this without sponsors.”

Shafiq said: “I am a lucky man, to be given these opportunities by Mr. Jamie Richards, Mr. David Ellis, and Mr. Mark Walker. They have supported me from day one.”

Melody Belle was strapped by Teina Walters.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz