One of the finest NZ mares to ever to grace the turf was a lethal G1 winning machine

Melody Belle was bred at Haunui Farm in Karaka, New Zealand. She was bred by Haunui's longest standing client, Marie Leicester. Melody Belle is a member of the famous "Belle" family brought to the fore by Marie's parents, James and Annie Sarten. Bought by David Ellis for a lowly NZ$57,500 at the 2016 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale and raced by the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, "The Belle" turned out to be one of New Zealands greatest ever race mares. She was by the sire Commands (Danehill) from the dam Meleka Belle (Iffraaj) and trained by Jamie Richards out the prestigious Te Akau Racing Stables in Matamata.

Melody Belle made a successful start to her racing career as a 2YO, winning her debut at Ruakaka in October 2016. The filly rebounded from two poor runs to win the prestigious 2YO Karaka Millions at Ellerslie Racecourse. The filly then won the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni Racecourse. She then went to Australia for the the Gr.2 Brisbane Sires Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm in May and by ridden by Opie Bosson won by four lengths. Early in her career she had won almost twenty times her $57,500 purchase price. Melody Belle was named Champion Two-Year-Old for the 2016/2017 season. Melody Belle was spelled 182 days before her next start in December 2017, now as a 3YO. She then scored in the Gr.3 Mongolian Khan Trophy, at Ellerslie, which she won by 3.5L in her only win as a three-year-old. She went to Sydney for her final two starts of the season, a 5th in the Light Fingers Stakes on 17 February under Rory Hutchings, and 9th place finish in the Surround Stakes in March.

In her 4yo season, Melody Belle improved significantly, winning all three starts. In her first start in August she won the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa against a strong field. The victory gave trainer Jamie Richards his first win as the sole trainer for Te Akau Racing. Melody Belle then won the first two legs of the New Zealand Triple Crown, in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) on the first day of the Hawkes Bay Racing Carnival at Hastings, then in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m). She did not attempt to win the final leg and become the first horse to win the New Zealand Triple Crown. After a spell Melody Belle returned in January 2019 for another shot ar the Railway Stakes, finishing 3rd from a wide gate. Stepping up in distance, Melody Belle hit a remarkable run of form through the New Zealand summer. Firstly she earned her fourth Group One win in the Gr.1 Waikato Sprint at Te Rapa in February, then two weeks later she won the Gr.1 Haunui Classic (1600m) at Otaki Racecourse. In her first race further than a mile, Melody Belle won the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m). Her sixth Group one surpassed the outstanding galloper Darci Brahma as Te Akau's best ever G1 performer. Melody Belle was crowned the Champion Sprinter/Miler and New Zealand Horse of the Year for the 2018/2019 season.

Melody Belle returned to Hastings after a spell and cruised away to win her second Tarzino Trophy. Three weeks later, Melody Belle returned in the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m), for the second time. She won by nearly three lengths under Bosson, tying with the two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year Mufhasa for the most Group one wins in New Zealand with eight. Huge crowds gathered to watch the Gr.1 Livamol Spring Classic, where Opie Bosson rode Melody Belle into the history books as she became the only horse to win the New Zealand's Triple Crown. By winning the Triple Crown, Melody Belle had won three Group one races in only five weeks. With the win, she also became the only horse to win 9 Group One races in New Zealand.

Keeping her brilliant win streak alive, Melody Belle returned to win the Gr.1 $1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Derby Day. This was her first Group one win in Australia and her tenth overall. Melody Belle stayed in Melbourne and ran 2nd from barrier 15 in the Gr.1 $2 million Mackinnon Stakes on 9 November against star mare, Magic Wand. After a 105 day spell, Melody Belle returned to Australia for am autumn campaign. Her first race was in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) in February, finishing third. She came 3rd again with Opie aboard in the All-Star Mile in March. Opie Bosson rode her again in the Doncaster Mile where they finished fourth on a very heavy track. Her autumn campaign concluded with a gritty fifth place finish in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick under Kerrin McEvoy. Melody Belle was named 2019/2020 Champion Sprinter/Miler and Champion Middle Distance Horse, as well as being crowned Horse of the Year again. Her first start back in New Zealand was the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) in October. She was ridden by Troy Harris and made a brilliant comeback, winning by a nose over her stablemate Avantage. Melody Belle achieved back-to-back wins in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic, giving Te Akau five Livamol wins and bringing her total Group one wins to 12. She then came third in the Mackinnon Stakes in November at Flemington.

The remarkable mare achieved a significant milestone in January by winning the prestigious Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham Racecourse. This triumph marked an extraordinary feat, as she matched the record of 13 Group One victories previously set by the legendary Sunline. Additionally, this win represented her 18th career victory, further solidifying her exceptional status in the world of thoroughbred racing. In March, Melody Belle won the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie on Auckland Cup day, defeating Avantage again in a dramatic battle to set an all-time record for most Group one wins by a New Zealand-trained horse with 14.

Melody Belle said farewell to New Zealand indefinitely and went to Australia for her final races and a broodmare career. Her final Australian campaign didn't get off to a good start, as she had muscle tie-up after her trackwork a few days before the Tancred Stakes when stepping up to 2400m. She was passed fit to race by Racing New South Wales vets, but it affected her performance and she finished sixth. Melody Belle's final race was the Doomben Cup on the 22nd May 2021, where she finished a gallant fifth to Zaaki. She finished her brilliant career with a record of 41 races with 19 wins, 1 second place finish, and 6 third place finishes. Her wins came from 900m to 2040m, showing her incredible versatility, power and speed. Melody Belle was purchased for A$2.6 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May 2021. She was purchased by Yulong Investments and was sent to their sire Written Tycoon. She had her first foal in August 2022.

RACE RECORD - 41: 19-1-6

EARNINGS - NZ$4,224,049

G1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (2017)

G1 Tarzino Trophy (2018, 2019)

G1 Windsor Park Plate (2018, 2019, 2020)

G1 BCD Group Sprint (2019)

G1 Haunui Farm Classic (2019)

G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2019, 2021)

G1 Livamol Spring Classic (2019, 2020)

G1 Empire Rose Stakes (2019)

G1 Thorndon Mile (2021)