MELODY BELLE dominant in Group 3 Mongolian Khan Trophy victory at Ellerslie
Crack filly back in winning groove
MELODY BELLE has again produced a faultless performance on the Karaka Million stage.
Twelve months ago, the top filly was the headline act when she was victorious in the two-year-old feature and at Ellerslie on Saturday she was back to claim top undercard honours in the Gr.3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m), with a margin of three and a half lengths at the line and a slick winning time of 1.09.48
Melody Belle 1st – Daylight 2nd – Winning Group 3 Mongolian Khan Trophy – Ellerslie Jan 27
In between times the Stephen Autridge and Jamie-Richards trained daughter of Commands has won the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and the Gr.2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
“I don’t think she’s ever been better,” Autridge said in the wake of Melody Belle’s latest success.
She was given a cosy run in the trail by stable jockey Opie Bosson and once they were into the clear soon after straightening the race was all over.
“She was full of running turning in and I didn’t have to go for the stick,” he said. “She did it all under her own steam, I was just the pilot.”
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Melody Belle was sent out a less than even money favourite and she won like it, gliding clear in the closing 150m to have a wide margin on runner-up Astor and Gift Of Power.
“That was a really good effort, things haven’t gone her way in her last couple of starts and back to her own age group today it was an exciting win,” Richards said.
The Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 10 is a possible next step for the filly and another trip across the Tasman is up for discussion.
Fortuna Syndications Racing Manager John Galvin was on hand to watch his charge’s dominant display along with 30 plus Members of the MELODY BELLE Syndicate – ” She’s back” he said “things didn’t quite go in her favour in the Railway, but her effort today, although in weaker company, was awesome, running a very slick time over the 1200 metre trip.
Now the winner of five races from ten starts with four of those wins at the elite level, MELODY BELLE has won over $913,000 in prizemoney for her Ownership Group of 34 individual Members.
MELODY BELLE was bred by Marie Leicester and was selected and acquired by David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna Syndicators at the 2016 Karaka Premier Sale for $57,500.