Melody Belle Supreme in Windsor Park

The Informant reports:

Melody Belle has completed her domination of spring feature racing with a runaway win in the Gr. 1 Windsor Park Plate at Hastings.

With wins in the Gr. 2 Foxbridge Plate and Gr. 1 Tarzino Trophy in her two new season appearances, Melody Belle was the horse to beat when she lined up in barrier one for the feature event on the second day of the Hawke's Bay carnival.

Doubts expressed by some about her ability to extend her prowess to 1600 metres were kicked for touch as she jumped to lead the field in the short run to the first bend and then take a trail. By the midway stage regular rider Shafiq Rusof had the bay mare humming and as the field turned for home with Melody Belle easing three wide to challenge, it was obvious she had plenty in reserve.

Shortly after it was all over. Showing her disdain for a quality field, Melody Belle sprinted clear and Rusof had the luxury of an attempted pukana and salute as the classy mare hit the line nearly two lengths in front.

Savvy Coup emerged from the pack with an impressive finishing burst that took her into second and clear favouritism for the Livamol Classic back at Hastings in two weeks' time. Wyndspelle was another length and a quarter back third in what was also an eye-catching Livamol trial.

Melody Belle's spring hat-trick has been the highlight of a flying start to the solo training career of Jamie Richards, whose resilience has been tested over the past week by a trip to hospital to deal with a bone lodged in his digestive tract.

“Barriers win races,” said Richards, who earlier in the day had also saddled up Avantage to win the Gr. 3 Gold Trail Stakes from the same inside gate. “It was another lovely ride from Shafiq, he's riding with such confidence and doing all the right things on this mare.

“She came into this race at the top of her game, she had trained on beautifully from her win here three weeks ago.

“With a mare like her, it's quite something to see her grow in confidence like she has just lately. Whichever you look at it, that was impressive.”

Sharing that awe was John Galvin, the manager of the Fortuna Syndicate that races Melody Belle. “I know it might sound funny, but last night I dreamt she would do that,” Galvin said. “It's just the way she's racing, she gives you that level of confidence.”

A cheeky suggestion by Hawke's Bay Racing CEO immediately after Melody Belle's cakewalk that Richards consider a late entry to the Livamol Classic is unlikely to be taken up.

“No, I don't think that will be the way we'll go,” Richards said. “The first two legs at Hastings were always the plan, so now we'll go home, let things settle down and then make a decision on what comes next.”