Our Belle Bombs Them

What can you say?

In winning her fifth Group One race this season, with victory in the weight-for-age $200,000 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m), Melody Belle(4 m Commands - Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) surpassed previous Te Akau record holder Darci Brahma (Danehill).

Both purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis, Melody Belle now has a total of six Group One victories, to edge ahead of the five by Darci Brahma who went on to become a Champion stallion.

Looking a shots eye for Horse of the Year honours, notwithstanding a herculean performance by another horse in the remaining four months of the season, Melody Belle was bought for $57,500 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Haunui Farm, and the Champion Two-Year-Old has now won 11 of her 19 starts, with earnings of $1,625,406 for the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin). 

The Group One win was also a milestone for rider Opie Bosson, who, after equalling the record (62) when winning the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) in the previous race aboard stable-mate Yourdeel (Dundeel), became the highest Group One winning rider with 63 victories. 

And for Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards, two Group Ones on the day levelled him in front on the Training Premiership with 76 wins this season, increased his stakes winning tally to 16, leading in prize money, and the sharpest strike rate (4.7) amongst the top 20 trainers. 

Keen to get on with business in the early stages of the race, Melody Belle was steadied by Bosson to seventh on the inner. Off the rail and improving into the clear around the home turn, she was tackled immediately by Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman) and the pair launched into battle wide on the track before Melody Belle gained ascendency near the line.

The neck margin was any amount to win by, as Bosson appeared to have matters in hand over the final stages, while third placed Rondinella (Ocean Park) was three and a half lengths away. 

“I saw the grey head (Danzdanzdance) come up beside me and thought we're in for a fight here,” Bosson said. “I thought she might have had me, but my little mare, geez, she just doesn't know when to lie down.

“I tucked her in to get a bit of cover because she was pulling a bit hard early and she relaxed once I did that. I slowly eased myself away from the inside. I saw Vin De Dance coming off the bit across the top and thought I'd get out underneath him, so it worked out quite well.”

Bosson added: “I'm just lucky to ride horses like her that David Ellis buys and Jamie trains. If you want to get into some good horses, come and join the Te Akau team.”

On footing that started the day Slow7, but downgraded to Heavy10 by race four, Melody Belle ran the 2000 metres in 2:06.5 and last 600m in 37.

“I said during the week it was going to be good to see two really good mares go toe to toe and thankfully we've come out on top,” Richards said.

“Full credit to the horse, the staff at home, and the jockey, they've done a terrific job and she goes to the paddock hopefully Horse of the Year.”

Richards said Melody Belle would have a good spell, looking for a return to training in May, and could follow a similar path in the spring that saw her win the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m), Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400 metres), and Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) earlier this season. 

“We might go to Melbourne for look around as well,” said Richards, who suggested that contesting the weight-for-age $5 million Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) could be a possibility. 

“We never take it for granted to have these good horses. For Dave (Ellis) to buy her for $57,500, John (Galvin) to syndicate her and get such a good group of people involved, it's a pleasure to be here accepting the accolades.

“She was going a bit keen at the winning post and Opie got her behind a couple, but she travelled keen enough. But she sprinted like a proper, good, horse does, so full credit to her. She's a champion and we just love her.”

Bred by Marie Leicester, from a family started by her parents (James & Annie Sarten), Ellis recalled being aware of the family in his formative racing years.

“When I was a late teenager, I never missed a meeting here at Ellerslie,” Ellis said. “I was a racing decibel, had no money, trying to make a few dollars on the punt, to supplement the $35 per week I made working on a farm.

“I loved the old Melody Belle. She was a Taipan mare that was trained by my hero, Ray Verner, and ridden by David Peake. I loved the family and it's amazing to think I've been able to buy the new Melody Belle, for the reserve price, and see her do so well. 

“Melody Belle is a typical example of what I'm trying to buy. Horses that will race at two, improve to be better at three, better at four, and I think she'll have her best season next year as a five-year-old.

“Jamie's management of her has been quite incredible. She trialled in July, won her first start in August, a Group Two, and she's been beautifully placed to win five Group Ones. And it's such a proud day for us to win two Group Ones today. 

“On the back of the success by Melody Belle, I bought her half-sister last year by Not A Single Doubt, called Exaltation. We really like her too, and all this adds to her value. She's had one trial for a win and we think she'll make the grade.

Speaking about Opie Bosson, David Ellis said: “He's the absolute best. He's a champion. For Opie to break the great mans (Lance O'Sullivan) record for Group One wins is just incredible.

“Mark Walker said to me that he'd done some research, saying, the best years of the best jockeys in the world is between the ages of 38 and 44, and Opie is 38 so he's got some pretty exciting times ahead of him. 

“He's worked incredibly hard this season on his fitness and it showing in the fact that he's riding in what looks like career best form.

Breeder Marie Leicester said: “She's just absolutely amazing and so tough. She's showed today just how tough she is. It's an absolute buzz. 

“The 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.

“And David (Ellis) also bought Exaltation and she's going to be a very valuable mare whether she does anything or not, but she looks promising. Meleka Belle has a Tavistock foal at foot and she's back in foal to Not A Single Doubt. 

“Dad always stressed to me, never count the cost of the service fee because once the foal arrives on the ground it's going to cost the same for the blacksmith, vet, training, everything, and he always said that the mare's input was seventy percent of the foal anyway. That's what he brought me up on and always reckoned.

“When I sent Meleka Belle over to Commands, I wanted to cross the Belle family with Patrick's (Hogan) family because I reckoned there were no better families in New Zealand, and Melody Belle is the result.”

Melody Belle was strapped by Teina Walters. “He's just a champion bloke, Teina,” Ellis said. “He's a guy that inspires a lot of other young New Zealanders and we're lucky to have him in our team.”

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