Bonecrusher NZ Stakes (Group 1)
MELODY Belle has surpassed Sunline to be the sole record holder of most Group 1 wins by a New Zealand horse. Locked at 13 apiece with the three-time Horse of the Year from the late 1990s, Melody Belle was up against the horse most likely to challenge her mantle, Avantage, the stablemates lining up in a field of eight for the Group 1 Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Over 2,000 metres, two lengths separated the pair in the back half of the field with the course broadcaster George Simon nominating the race, “... an equine chess game”.
Troy Harris moved Melody Belle onto the back of Avantage, as Opie Bosson on the later slipped through a gap on the bend to set after the leader. Tracking wider, Melody Belle was balanced up and given her task.
Sweeping up to the field, the six-year-old mare went by five other Group 1 winners to hit the front 50 metres out. A length on the line separated her from the Fastnet Rock mare Avantage, herself an eight-time Group 1 winner, with the early leader, the O’Reilly gelding Tiptronic, holding on for third.
The New Zealand-bred six-year-old Commands mare improves her record to 19 wins from 38 starts and over NZ$4.2 million in stakes. “It is special to be part of this,” said Harris who had to waste to make the 57kg required. “I ride her most fast work mornings in trackwork and I think she deserves this moment.”
Credit
Trainer Jamie Richards deserves credit for managing Melody Belle’s longevity, though he is keen to return to cross the Tasman one more time. “Everybody knows this is her last campaign and I’d like to give her another crack at Australia and the owners are keen on that,” said Richards. “We have the option of Sydney but also Brisbane where a race like the Doomben Cup could be perfect. She is a marvel that she has raced at this level for this long and we are all very proud of her.”
Melody Belle looks set to be offered at public auction as her owners, the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, are not geared as a breeding concern.
“We have three options including New Zealand Bloodstock’s online platform, the Chairman’s Sales in Sydney and the Gold Coast sale and we will make an announcement about that soon,” said syndicate manager John Galvin.
The current broodmare record in Australia is the A$4.2 million that Coolmore paid for the three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight.
speedy success
Sistema Stakes (Group 1)
WITH a strike rate of a winner every 4.86 runners and a lead of 69 in the New Zealand trainers’ premiership, should surprise follow when Jamie Richards trains the quinella in both Group 1 races at Ellerslie last Saturday?
In a precursor to the Bonecrusher Stakes, Te Akau Racing sent out the top two elects in the Sistema Stakes for juveniles at set weights. Over 1,200 metres their two Australian-bred horses jumped straight to the lead with the raw speed of Sword Of State evident throughout.
Handbrake
Opie Bosson had a good hold of the Snitzel colt before slipping the handbrake in the straight and clearing out for a three-length win. On The Bubbles, a gelding by Brazen Beau was left to clean up the remainder with the Super Easy filly Bonny Lass taking third.
A fleeting thought of the Golden Slipper was quickly put to bed by Te Akau Racing. “We’ve opted to go for the Sires’ Produce in Sydney, or if it’s wet, the Manawatu Sires’ Produce (both are Group 1s over 1,400 metres) here in New Zealand,” said Jamie Richards. “They are run on the (same) day (April 3rd), so it gives us the option to go where it is drier. He won’t be seen in the Slipper. There is a fair bit of travel to do and only a week to turn him around, plus the forecast is awful.”