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

With the end of the 2018/19 racing season almost upon us, we now reflect on the fourth of the Group/Listed wins (18 in total) achieved by Jamie Richards and our team in the season that (almost) was ...

Sometimes on a racecourse a horse stands out, puts their hands up as the one to beat, and Melody Belle  (4 m Commands - Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj) was just that horse prior to winning the weight-for-age $200,000 Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 22 September at Hastings.

Having won the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400 metres) on the same course three weeks earlier, following a fresh-up win in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr. 2, 1200m) at Te Rapa, plus being favoured in betting ($3.40 & $1.70), were all pointers in her favour, but it was also the pristine condition in which she paraded and immediate focus as she commenced her preliminary that spelled doom for the opposition. 

And what a win: easing down after pulling three lengths clear inside the final furlong to eventually win by a 1 ¾ lengths.

From the coveted one draw, Melody Belle received a beautiful trip in the trail, travelled sweetly on the bridle, was ready to strike rounding the home turn and she sprinted quickly under Shafiq to put the race in safekeeping.

After winning the prestigious Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) earlier on the programme with Avantage (Fastnet Rock), it was icing on the cake for trainer Jamie Richards.

“She's terrific isn't she,” Richards said. “Barriers win races and very important today. Lovely ride by Shafiq again, but she'd trained on beautifully and a big thank you to the team at home that takes such good care of her. Honestly, it's outstanding.

“She loves it. She knows she's good, has a real swagger about her and prances around like she knows she's pretty good. So, it's a dream result and I can't thank Dave (Ellis) and Mark (Walker) enough for the opportunity they've given me. Dave buys the horses and syndicates them with Karyn (Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and John (Galvin) slots in there as a very important part of our business with Fortuna.

“Also, I'd like to thank Marie Leicester for breeding her. She's become a good friend and breeds lovely horses.”

Claiming her third Group One victory, having won the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m), Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Eagle Farm, and Mongolian Khan Trophy (Gr. 3, 1200m), the Champion Two-Year-Old from last season recorded her eighth win from 15 starts and took her earnings to $1,236,406 for the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin).

Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased the stellar filly for $57,500 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Haunui Farm, and her stocks continue to rise.

“I think the significance of today is owed to all the staff who has worked so hard,” Ellis said. “And after winning the race last year with Gingernuts and previously with Princess Coup, it was very exciting to win the race again this year.

“To win the Gold Trail and the Windsor Park at Hastings, plus two other races and also have a filly place in the Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton is something I'm hugely proud of and hugely proud of the team that looks after them.”

It was decided after the win that Melody Belle, rather than step in distance for the third leg of the Triple Crown (Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040)) at Hastings, would instead spell and be freshened for further Group One assignments through the summer..........more to come.

Melody Belle was strapped by Teina Walters. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

Back