WINNER: Lyrics on Song

The first foal out of Te Akau purchased and trained dual Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee Melody Belle, Lyrics ‘N’ Song (4 m Written Tycoon – Melody Belle, by Commands) won the A$35,000 Benchmark 62 1200 metres on 10 September at Seymour (Victoria). 

After recording an easy Maiden win over 1200 metres and finishing third in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) last season, Lyrics ‘N’ Song raced below par when resuming on Heavy8 footing in the Class 1 1325 metres on 14 August at Geelong, but had since finished a close fourth in 800-metre jump out on 31 August at Cranbourne. 

On better footing, upgraded to Soft5, Lyrics ‘N’ Song was caught out before improving four-wide inside the 600m and despite a tough trip, she was able to keep finding in order to collar the previously unbeaten favourite Plunger (Ace High). 

It was a tough and genuine performance from a filly that promised plenty as a three-year-old, while also benefitting through two-kilos weight relief to carry 57.5kg, courtesy of apprentice jockey Stephanie Hateley. 

Sponsored by RMBL Investments Rising Stars Race, Lyrics ‘N’ Song ran 1200 metres in 1:11.1 and paid $4.70 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Lyrics ‘N’ Song was bred and is owned by Yu Long Investments, after owner Mr Zhang purchased Melody Belle (Commands) for A$2.6 million from the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the completion of her racing career. 

Melody Belle was then mated with Yulong Stud nine-time Champion Sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia) and Lyrics ‘N’ Song is the resultant foal. 

“It’s great to see her win again for Mr Zhang in the famous Yulong colours,” said trainer Mark Walker. 

“She had disappointed first-up at Geelong, but we worked out the problem, sent her back to the jump outs with a tongue tie on, and she bounced back to win really well today. 

“Obviously, being a daughter of Melody Belle, she’s very special to the whole Te Akau team. She’s already got some black type, so if we can add to her race record, she will be an even more valuable addition to the Yulong broodmare band. 

“It was good to reward Steph Hateley with a winner, too, as she comes in and rides track work for us, and it was great to see her salute in the apprentice-only race.” 

Te Akau principal Sir David Ellis has bought a lot of champion racehorses over the years, but Melody Belle is hard to go past on many levels. 

From the incredible Belle family, bred by Marie Leicester, prepared and offered for sale by Haunui Farm, Sir David bought Melody Belle for $57,500 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. 

Owned by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), she won on debut in October of her two-year-old season at Ruakaka, became the first of seven consecutive $1 million Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winners purchased by Ellis. She then capped her juvenile year winning the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), and Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, en route to being named New Zealand's Champion Two-Year-Old. 

At three, she became the first Karaka Million 2YO winner since its inception 10 years earlier to win at the Karaka Million meeting a year on, when successful in the Group 3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m). 

Early in her four-year-old season she won the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings, commencing a record that must surely stand forever, whereby remaining unbeaten in seven Group One races from as many starts on the course. 

During 2019, she became the historical and since unmatched Triple Crown winner at Hastings, during a calendar year that contained seven Group One wins, including the Group 1 Empire Rose (1600m) at Flemington, matching the great Winx (Street Cry) for record number of Group One wins in a year. 

She equalled the domestic Group One record (13) of mighty mare Sunline (Desert Sun) when winning the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) in 2021, and set a new national record (14) when winning the Group 1 Bonecrusher NZ Stakes (2000m). 

She retired the winner of 14 Group One races (19 from 41 in total) and $4.3 million prize money, before selling as a broodmare for A$2.6 million. 

In May 2023, Melody Belle was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame. 

Lyrics ‘N’ Song was strapped by Rachel Ames.