MELODY BELLE to be sold as Broodmare prospect at Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast in May

Record-breaking New Zealand mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) is set to create further history in May as the most successful racemare ever to be offered for public auction when the 14-time Group 1 winner goes through the ring at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.

Confirmation that the ownership group would sell Melody Belle at the conclusion of her racing career had been made some time ago, but the exact location and format of her sale had yet to be announced.

Magic Millions has now confirmed she will be the star of its National Broodmare Sale and will sell on Day 1, Tuesday, May 25, in a huge boost for the profile of the Sale.

“The decision was made some time ago that 2021 would be her last racing season and our immediate focus has been on her racing campaign,” Fortuna Director, John Galvin, said. “Recently, the decision had to be made on how and where we would sell her and we have decided the Gold Coast was the best option.

“Melody Belle has been an absolute life changer for her connections. My wife, Jessica, has a share and is one of 34 individual owners who are spread right across New Zealand as well as one in Melbourne and two expat Kiwis who live in Laos.”

Purchased for NZ$57,500 by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis out of the Haunui Farm draft at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka, the daughter of Commands and Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) took little time establishing herself as a star, winning on debut in October of her 2-year-old season and then going on to claim the R. Listed Karaka Million at her fourth start for Jamie Richards and Stephen Autridge.

She then secured her first elite success in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. She would win her first race in Australia in the G2 QTC Sires’ Produce S., while it wouldn’t be until her 4-year-old season that she would further add to her Group 1 tally.

Melody Belle claimed the G1 Tarzino Trophy and G1 Windsor Park S. in the spring of 2018, and then would add a hat-trick of New Zealand Group 1 wins in early 2019 in the BCD Sprint, the Haunui Classic and the New Zealand S.

She would return to create history as a 5-year-old as the first winner of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown, claiming the G1 Tarzino Trophy and the G1 Windsor Park for a second time, and then win the G1 Livamol Classic.

Melody Belle then won her first Australian Group 1 race, defeating a quality collection of mares in the G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington, while she was only narrowly beaten in the G1 Mackinnon S. a week later.

She campaigned in Australia through the autumn and early spring of 2020 before returning home to win the Windsor Park Plate for the third time and then winning the Livamol Classic for the second straight year.

Her G1 Thorndon Mile victory in January drew her level with the legendary Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) on 13 Group 1 wins, the most by a New Zealand-trained runner and she then broke new ground with her win in the G1 Bonecrusher S. at Ellerslie earlier this month.

Resume not yet complete

She is not finished with her racing career and will contest the G1 Tancred S. on April 3, while she holds entries for both the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. and the G1 Coolmore Legacy S.

Galvin indicated that she is also likely to be set for a final campaign in Queensland, including the G1 Doomben Cup, which would be held three days before she is set to go to auction.

“One of the real keys to her success is her soundness,” Galvin said. “She’s never had an issue physically and that has seen her continue racing at the highest level as a two, three, four, five and now 6-year-old.

“She has won from 900 metres to 2000 metres and on Saturday week she will get a chance to add 2400 metres as well. She’s won over every trip and on every type of track.”

Galvin praised trainer Jamie Richards and the Te Akau Racing team, headed by her buyer David Ellis, for managing her throughout what has been a remarkable career.

“Melody Belle’s first season in training came just as Jamie had been appointed co-trainer at Te Akau and he’s been there the whole way through. While there’s been many more since, I know she holds a special place with Jamie as she was his first top-line horse,” he said.

“For her ownership group and for Fortuna it’s been an incredible ride. We have just syndicated our 111th yearling and she was number 62.

“Many of Melody Belle’s New Zealand owners are based in smaller towns and hamlets and all of the owners have become well known in the community and she has really become the people’s horse. She has such a huge following with so many people knowing and supporting those who have a share in New Zealand’s champion.”

Massive boost for Magic Millions

Her presence in the National Broodmare Sale catalogue is a huge filip for Magic Millions, which is finalising entries for the four-day Sale from May 25-28 as well as for the National Weanling Sale on May 20 and 21, and National Yearling Sale from June 2 – June 4.

“We are incredibly humbled to be entrusted with the sale of Melody Belle on behalf of Fortuna, Te Akau and her ownership group,” Magic Millions Managing Director, Barry Bowditch, said. “She’s the horse of a lifetime.

“There’s never been a horse to have won so many Group 1 races go to public auction – she presents a very rare opportunity for buyers around the world. She has an incredible physique which goes without saying as she was purchased by one of the great judges in David Ellis as a yearling.

“The National Sale will present buyers across the whole Sale with a truly world-class lineup of stock – from weanlings and yearlings to race fillies and broodmares. We can’t wait to unveil the catalogues in the coming weeks.”

Three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar) set a new record for the National Sale when she sold for $4.2 million last year to Coolmore Australia’s Tom Magnier.

Coolmore also set the Australasian record for the highest price for a broodmare at public auction in 2008 when it paid $5 million for Group 3 winner Milanova (Danehill {USA}) in foal to Encosta De Lago at the 2008 Inglis Weanling and Breeding Stock Sale.