Written by Paul Vettise

High-quality mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) made racing history at home during the 2019/20 season before she added Australian Group 1 honours to her impressive CV.

Melody Belle was expertly managed by Jamie Richards, who claimed his first Trainers’ Premiership since taking sole charge of the powerful Te Akau operation while Lisa Allpress won her fourth Jockeys’ Premiership.

Melody Belle was in peerless form in 2019/20 and claimed her slice of New Zealand turf history when she dominated the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival. She became the first Group 1 Triple Crown winner following victories in the Tarzino Trophy, Windsor Park Plate and Livamol Classic.

She overcame interference at the start of the Tarzino to boom home to account for Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and she was untested to in the final two legs at Hastings.

Melody Belle was far too good for Sultan Of Swing (NZ) (Bachelor Duke {USA}) in the Windsor Park and Peso (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}) was no match for her when she powered clear to land the Livamol by a wide margin.

“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,” Te Akau supremo David Ellis said. “Jamie Richards has done an incredible job training her.”

More was to follow for Melody Belle in Australia where she triumphed in the G1 Empire Rose S. for her 10th win at the elite level and finished runner-up to Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Mackinnon S. after drawing a horror gate.

She crossed the Tasman again in the autumn to place in the G1 Futurity S. and the All-Star Mile before she finished fourth in the G1 Doncaster H., in which she conceded up to 6.5kg to those in front of her. Her campaign ended when sixth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.

Champion Trainer

Melody Belle was central to a stellar season for Jamie Richards, who sent out 101 winners to claim the National Premiership.

He had won the title in the 2015/16 season when training in partnership with Stephen Autridge so it was hugely satisfying to do so again, but in his own right.

Richards’ tally included 12 Group 1 victories, headed by the aforementioned Melody Belle whose exploits sparked several celebrations.

“She’s a great mare and that double in Sydney was also very special,” he said.

He was referring to Probabeel’s victory in the G1 Surround S. at Randwick with stablemate Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) later claiming the G1 Chipping Norton S.

Probabeel had earlier earned herself a slice of New Zealand racing history when she won the Karaka Million 3YO Classic to go with her Karaka Million 2YO Classic victory and the first horse to claim both titles.

Richards, who sent out 20 black type winners in 2019/20, also showed off his conditioning skills with Avantage (Fastnet Rock). She won the G1 Telegraph H. over 1200 metres, the G1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic at a mile and the G1 Bonecrusher S. over 2000 metres in the space of four starts.

The Group 1 stable tally also included success in the G1 Sistema S. with Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel).

Champion jockey

In a season interrupted by the COVID-19 lockdown, Lisa Allpress was a dominant winner of the Jockeys’ Premiership with 95 winners and 17 clear of the champion apprentice Kozzi Asano.

“It wasn’t on my radar at the start of the season. I just wanted to go out and support the people who have supported me from the start,” she said.

“I got some winners under my belt and as the season progressed I got into the top three and from February I started getting serious about giving it my best shot.”

It was a fourth title for the Wanganui-based rider following successes in 2011/12, 2015/16 and last season.

“It would have been nice to get to 100 wins again, but I’m not worried about that. I’m just happy to be back at work and seeing racing back up and running again,” Allpress said.

However, Allpress will be a longshot to retain her crown in 2020/21 as she will be out of action for at least two months due to upcoming hip replacement surgery.

“I’ll be having surgery on August 23 for a hip replacement on my right side. That will keep me out for a couple of months but I’ll be back and pain-free hopefully,” she said.

“The pain has been quite bad and restrictive. I certainly haven’t been feeling the greatest riding at some meetings so I definitely won’t be winning another premiership next season, but who knows after that? I’m not ready to finish yet.”