SPORTING the colours of Te Akau Racing, Melody Belle equalled Sunline’s record of 13 Group 1 wins for a New Zealand-trained galloper when she prevailed in the Thorndon Mile at Trentham last Saturday.

Swinging into the home straight the field lined out with the race up for grabs. Sinarahma, having overcome a costly missed start, edged ahead as the closest to the rail but Melody Belle drew on the tenacity that has seen her win 18 of 36 starts to overhaul the Darci Brahma mare and defeat her by a nose with the Falkirk gelding Deerfield in third.