She's a Ding Donger

ANZ Bloodstock News reports:

The impressive Australian debut victory of the New Zealand filly Melody Belle (Commands) in taking out Saturday's BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) provided one of the bright moments on what proved a lamentable day at Eagle Farm.

Racing on a Heavy 8 track, despite clear skies and basically no rain for a week, Eagle Farm's controversial track presented racing far removed from the days when it was widely regarded as one of the best in the country.

To understand what has resulted in seeing quality horses, many proven performers on affected tracks, fail dismally appears a mystery at this stage but the fact remains that it is clearly odd in the extreme to see horses beaten so far, 20 lengths plus in a number of races and 80 lengths plus in the Grand Prix Stakes (Gr 3, 2200m). Even the Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Prized Icon (More Than Ready) looked nothing like a dual Group One winner when he dropped out from the home turn to finish 11th, beaten 27 lengths in the Grand Prix Stakes.

Hopefully a solution can be found to return Eagle Farm to somewhere near the standard it was renowned for, in the meantime the remainder of the feature Brisbane meetings has been transferred to nearby Doomben.

But some horses did manage to cope with Saturday's track and Melody Belle was clearly one of them winning by four and three quarter lengths, claiming favouritism for tomorrow weeks' J J Atkins Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) in the process. After beginning quickly, Opie Bosson eased Melody Belle to travel in fourth place before racing away in the straight to score brilliantly, handling the conditions very well.

Time for the 1400 metre journey was 1:25.66 with the first 800 metres in a solidly run 48.29 with the last 600 metres in 37.37. Racing And Sports rated times for the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes as being 0.41 (per 200m) slower than average - the adjusted times therefore being 1:22.79, with the first 800 metres in a quick 46.65 and the last 600 metres in 36.14.

Melody Belle showed her quality in coming off a solid early pace and ran the 1400 metre journey out strongly suggesting that the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained filly should be suited by the longer 1600 metres of the J J Atkins Stakes. The win was Melody Belle's fourth from six starts to date, which includes the Karaka Million (RL, 1200m) at Ellerslie on 29 January and the Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Awapuni on 1 April.