Fortuna’s Melody Belle wins the Group One Empire Rose Stakes ($1m) at Flemington on Derby Day

The commentator said it all “Melody Belle is flying home – here comes the Kiwi star – she is a bonny mare, a mighty mare,”

Yes, she did it, a nine time Group One winner in New Zealand and a Group Two winner in Australia, two previous Group One attempts in Australia had eluded her, but today she put the record straight. She shrugged off the wide draw, the wet track and the three wide trip to put in a compelling and dominating finishing run to win at the line by one and a half lengths.

Click HERE to see the race replay.

Fortuna Syndications Director, John Galvin, was on course along with 20 of the 37 syndicate Members. “What a day,” he said, “here we are on one of the great racecourses of the world on one of the greatest race days of the world and we have won a Group One race with our wonderful Mare – it dos not get any better than that.”

Melody Belle has now won 15 of her 25 races, takes her Group One tally to 10 and has accumulated prizemoney of NZ$2,700,000

John Galvin also paid tribute to Jamie Richards, describing him as an outstanding young Trainer, Te Akau supremo, David Ellis, who acquired Melody Belle for $57,500 at the 2016 NZ Bloodstock Sale, Opie Bosson, who is unbeaten on Melody Belle and strapper, Craig Thornton who has been looking after the Mare in her time at Flemington