Star Kiwi Mare Primed for Flemington

NZ Racing News reports:

A sparkling trackwork gallop at Flemington on Tuesday has given
Matamata trainer Jamie Richards all the assurance he wanted from stable
star Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) as she heads in to Saturday's Gr.1 $A1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

The Commands five-year-old mare is a $3.40
favourite for the weight-for-age fillies and mares feature despite drawing
barrier 13 as she chases the tenth Group One win of her career.

“She's in good form,” Richards
said.

“She worked well at Flemington on
Tuesday morning on the course proper. It looked to be very good, strong work
and Craig Thornton and Brad Taylor, who has been a big help to us in Melbourne,
were both impressed with what they saw. They are very happy with her.

“We were going to give her a jumpout
at Flemington last Friday but we didn't think she needed it. She didn't look
like she needed it and her weight is good.

“With her recent racing, she's very
fit and the month between runs is fine for her dropping back to 1600m. She
doesn't let us down and her record suggests she's one out of the box.”

Bred by Marie Leicester and raced by the
Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, Melody Belle has won 14 of her 24 starts,
including the Gr.2 Queensland Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm as a
two-year-old.

She was bought by Te Akau principal David
Ellis for $57,500 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale from
the draft of Haunui Farm and has topped $2 million in earnings.

In October, she became the first horse to
win the Hawke's Bay weight-for-age triple crown of the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy
(1400m), Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).

“Her draw is a bit awkward for
Saturday but she will enjoy the roomy Flemington track,” Richards said.

“There doesn't look to be a lot of
speed in the race but one thing we know about her is she can relax off the
speed and quicken just as well as she can if she takes up a good spot closer to
the speed. She's very versatile and we'll just leave that up to Opie (Bosson,
jockey).”

Richards has made no firm plans for Melody Belle after the Empire
Rose Stakes but was open to the possibility of backing up in Saturday
week's Gr.1 A$2m Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), also at Flemington.

“If she was to win very impressively
we would give thought to backing up in the Mackinnon but we've never backed her
up before,” he said.

“She's been up a long time and done a
bit of travelling, so we'll put her first whatever happens. But she's in good
health and sound and that's been her biggest attribute right through. Touch
wood, we've never had to treat a joint or had a problem with her.”

Meanwhile, closer to home Richards has
runners at New Plymouth on Friday and at Awapuni and Pukekohe on Saturday.

“Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) and Weaponry (NZ) (Declaration of War)
will run at Pukekohe. They've got big weights but they are two nice
progressive horses,” he said.

Other upcoming stable engagements will see Aotea Lad (NZ) (Savabeel)
tackle the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton
on Saturday week and Folk Dress (Pierro) contest the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com
NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton a week later, with Al Haram (Sea
The Stars) earmarked for the Gr.3 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup
(3200m) the same day.

In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock), a winner at Te Rapa on Monday, will
prepare for the Gr.3 Ssangyong Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe on
November 23.

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