Te Akau's "Season That Was" continues ...

As the 2018/19 racing season draws to a close in New Zealand, we are taking the time across July to reflect on the 18 Group/Listed wins recorded by Jamie Richards and the team ... the second being another black type victory for our sweetheart Melody Belle ...

A fresh-up winner in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m), Melody Belle(4 m Commands - Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) delivered again under weight-for-age conditions in the $200,000 Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 1 September at Hastings.

Trainer Jamie Richards had said the work by Melody Belle “wasn't that flash” in the days leading up to the Foxbridge, but confidence had grown in the Champion Two-Year-Old and he reported her to have worked very well since.

Against a Group One field regarded as the best assembled in recent times, Melody Belle went forward from barrier seven to situate outside the leader, gained cover in fourth at the 1000 metres, and clear on straightening she went on under urgings from Shafiq to win narrowly but well. While finishing strongly into third, long-shot stable-mate Our Abbadean (Lookin at Lucky) notched the first of two Group One third placed finishes during the season.

“It was a terrific win and a terrific ride,” said trainer Jamie Richards. “Shafiq came down with a big rap from Mark (Walker) and you've got to thank Dave (Ellis) and Mark for giving him the opportunity and he's really stepped up. 

“We were really pleased with how Melody Belle came through the first-up win. She loves being out in the paddock when she can which helps her eat, and a big thank you to the whole staff. I'm only the name in the book. I can't do it all and I'm very grateful to the team.”

The win by Melody Belle took her earnings past the million-dollar mark ($1,111,406) and the yearling filly purchased by David Ellis for $57,500 looked set to give owners in the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin) a merry ride.

“She's a very valuable commodity and it was an emotional win for a number of reasons,” Ellis said. “John Galvin, to win another Group One for his great team was a big thrill, but to see any young man (Jamie Richards) win his first Group One race in his own right is an enormous achievement and it's just great to see a young guy with so much talent, that works so hard and doing his absolute best, get the results on race day.”

In the week leading up to the race, stable rider Opie Bosson had sent Ellis a text, saying: “‘I've just ridden Melody Belle (in training) and she just wins on Saturday', and what freak judge he is,” Ellis said. “He doesn't say it very often, but when he does he's always on the mark. He said the same for Te Akau Shark, and Melody Belle, just unbelievable.”

 â€œIt's the first time we've won the race. We got beaten a nose by Seachange, with Darci Brahma, so it was nice to win it and it's a race that's been won by some champion gallopers,” Ellis added.

Horses to have won the same race, formerly known as the Mudgway, include Rough Habit, Surfers Paradise, Sunline, Starcraft, Xcellent, Seachange, Tavistock, Mufhasa, Ocean Park, and Kawi.

From debut winner to Group One winner of the Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at her fifth start, Melody Belle had come of age with a mixture of toughness and brilliance to beat older horses at the highest level. And the conviction of her victory suggested she would again be hard to beat in the second leg of the Triple Crown (Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m)) on the same course three weeks later.

Melody Belle was strapped by Teina Walters. 

Walters said that Melody Belle was “pretty quiet” beforehand in the parade, but she ignited with her first step onto the track for the preliminary and immediately appeared focussed on the job at hand.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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