Unbeaten from three starts – all at Group Level – in the 2018/19 season – this is the race record of Fortuna’s outstanding 4yo Mare, MELODY BELLE. Sent for a two week freshen up after her dominant win in the Group One Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on 22nd September, a result which saw her rating lift to 107, making her the highest rated race horse currently racing in NZ, her resuming trial at Matamata was always going to hold a lot of interest for her connections and racing followers.
Her work pre trial had been first class and so a bold trial was expected. She certainly didn’t disappoint – drawn the widest in a nine horse field over 1000 metres, on a Slow 9 track and with Opie Bosson aboard (her regular race day rider Shafiq Rusof away on a family visit in Malaysia), she showed plenty of gate speed without urging and glided across the field to sit half a length off the trial leader. On straightening she hit the lead and was strong to the line, with Opie doing his best to restrain her. Click HERE to see the trial replay.
There were smiles all around from connections post trial, Opie had a grin from ear to ear and declared “she is so strong and so competitive”, while Trainer Jamie Richards declared himself satisfied that she was right on track to contest the Group One Sistema Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day after a further trial at Te Aroha on 11th December “We will extend her a bit more at the Te Aroha trial, treat it like a race” were his words to the large group of Syndicate Members on course to watch the trial. Syndicate Manager John Galvin reported to his Ownership Group on her race plans “We will go to the Railway fresh up, then tackle the Group One Telegraph (1200 metres) at Trentham 19th January and then go to the Group One Waikato Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa 9th February. After that, depending on her form and condition, we will weigh up her options for a return to Australia in the Autumn,” he said.
Melody Belle – Matamata Trials – 27th Nov 2018