Written by Paul Vettise
Group 1 contests are rarely foregone conclusions, but pre-race the final leg of the Triple Crown series at Hawke’s Bay certainly looked at the mercy of Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands).
Only bad luck or a heavy track seemed the only factors that could prevent her from making a clean sweep of the series, having previously triumphed in the G1 Tarzino Trophy and the G1 Windsor Park Plate.
Certainly the New Zealand TAB had waived the white flag as early as Wednesday and paid out all bets on the outstanding mare becoming the first horse to complete the Triple Crown.
And it became a reality on Saturday with Melody Belle adding the G1 Livamol Classic to her imposing record with a minimum of effort from the 5-year-old, now a nine-time winner at the highest level.
She has now surpassed Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) by one as the most prolific Group 1 winner on New Zealand soil and a tilt at the G1 Cox Plate may now beckon.
Karaka purchase
Bred by Marie Leicester, Melody Belle was purchased out of Haunui Farm’s draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales for NZ$57,500 by Te Akau chief David Ellis on behalf of Fortuna syndication company boss John Galvin.
“It’s the thrill of a lifetime to buy a filly that won the Karaka Million and has trained on each year and got better and better,” Ellis said. “Jamie Richards has done an incredible job training her.
Melody Belle (NZ), was purchased for NZ$57,500 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales
“It’s one of the greatest days I’ve had on a racecourse and a very proud day for Te Akau.”
Melody Belle jumped well from an inside gate and jockey Opie Bosson was desperate to avoid the fence and got off with a mile to run. From that point on he felt he had all bases covered.
“She’s such a darling. I got bumped around in the first half and then got out of trouble and she was just cruising the whole way,” he said.
“She’s such a darling. I got bumped around in the first half and then got out of trouble and she was just cruising the whole way.” – Opie Bosson.
“It takes an amazing horse to do this. It’s been an amazing training effort and all credit to all the team, I’m just the pilot.”
Melody Belle peeled out four wide before the turn and she cruised to the lead 250 metres from home to create history with Peso (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}) a game, but well-beaten second, with last season’s G1 New Zealand Derby winner Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) third.
Crown Prosecuter, last seasons's G1 New Zealand Derby winner
“It’s an incredible feeling. It’s probably the best she’s ever been,” Galvin said. “While you never get over confident, there was a lot of confidence in the camp the way she had been racing and training.
“She’s the one in 10,000 horse that you dream about. To have won nine Group 1s is life-changing.”
