By Heather Anderson
Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands {Aus}) was last seen winning the NZ$1-million Listed Karaka Million over 1200 metres at Ellerslie Jan. 29 and, although a virus forced her to miss the G1 Sistema S. there Mar. 16, she made up for lost time when victorious in the G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce S. at Awapuni Saturday. Belle du Nord (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) was 1 1/2 lengths back in second, while Joyfilly (NZ) (Highly Recommended {Aus}) rounded out the top three home.
“She's done nothing but improve in the last couple of weeks,” said co-trainer Stephen Autridge, who trains with Jamie Richards. “She always looked like she was travelling like the winner.”
The blinkered bay tracked in a close up fourth while relaxed for Michael McNab, as Hard Merchandize (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) showed the way. In need of room inside the final 200m, she burst in between horses and scampered clear to win going away for the Te Akau Racing's Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate run by John Galvin.
“We had a beautiful run and she started to pull a bit, but then came back to me and switched off,” McNab added. “We got the split and she was very strong to the line.”
Purchased for NZ$57,500 out of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Melody Belle donned cap and gown at Ruakaka at first asking last October and ran third in Trentham's G2 Wakefield Challenge S. Dec. 3. Only eighth in an open race over 1200 metres transferred to Ellerslie Jan. 14, the bay won the Karaka Million Jan. 29 and landed a Matamata barrier trial by 3/4 of a length Mar. 21.
Pedigree Notes…
The 11th Group 1 winner by the late Danehill sire Commands (Aus), Melody Belle is out of the winning Meleka Belle (NZ). The daughter of Iffraaj (GB), who sired his eighth Group 1 winner in the form of Jon Snow (NZ) in the G1 Australian Derby at Royal Randwick Saturday, has a 2015 filly by O'Reilly (NZ) and a 2016 filly by Not A Single Doubt (Aus). Meleka Belle is a half-sister to G1 1000 Guineas third Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky) and MGSP Desert Rain (NZ) (Honor Grades) and two other SP siblings. This is the extended family of G1SP Traditional (Aus) (Bureaucracy {NZ}).
Saturday, Awapuni, New Zealand
COURTESY FORD MANAWATU SIRES' PRODUCE S.-G1, NZ$225,000 (US$157,623/£125,656/€147,933), Manawatu RC, 4-01, 2yo, Open Set Weight, 1400mT, 1:25.54, Slow.
1–@&MELODY BELLE, 54.5, f, 2, by Commands (AUS)
1st Dam: Meleka Belle, by Iffraaj (GB)
2nd Dam: Empress Belle, by Sir Tristram (IRE)
3rd Dam: Imperial Belle, by Sovereign Edition (IRE)
(NZ$57,500 Ylg 2016 NZB National Yearling Sale). O-Fortuna
Melody Belle Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin); B-Mrs N M
Leicester, Auckland, NZ; T-S Autridge & J Richards; J-M J Mc
Nab; NZ$131,250. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, NZ$695,325. Werk
Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Belle du Nord, 54.5, f, 2, Reliable Man (GB)–Bankside Belle,
by Volksraad (GB). (NZ$50,000 Ylg 2016 NZB National
Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Sale). O-Northern Club Racing
Syndicate No.12 (Mgr: Sir David Williams Knzm,qc); B-Nearco
Stud Limited, Waikato, NZ; T-E & D Browne; J-L J Allpress;
NZ$42,000.
3–Joyfilly, 54.5, f, 2, Highly Recommended (AUS)–When the
Cats Away, by Felix the Cat (USA). (NZ$10,000 Ylg 2016 NZB
National Yearling Sale). O-Bayline Trust & C J Wood; B-A W
Jones & Mrs E W Morris, Canterbury, NZ; T-C J Wood; J-M D
Hills; NZ$21,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1, 2 1/4. Odds: 3.70, 6.60, 4.60.
Also Ran: Star Treasure, Hard Merchandize, Nothin' on Me, Scott Base, Ozil (AUS), Summer Monsoon (AUS), Mighty Power, Swing Note (AUS), Irish Flame, Hasahalo, Divine Power.
Scratched: Gold Fever (NZ), Princess Rihanna (NZ).
Click for the Racing Post result, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. NZ Racing Video.
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