Melody Belle in ‘unreal’ victory

New Zealand’s best mare Melody Belle defended her $200,000 Tarzino Trophy crown with an amazing performance at Hastings on Saturday.

The five-year-old Commands mare, who kicked off a stunning haul of five Group 1 victories in the 2018-19 racing season with her win in the 1400m race 12 months ago, produced another sparkling effort.

An indifferent run first-up fourth in the Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa to open her campaign, combined with an outside barrier draw, saw punters ($5.60) tread warily with the Jamie Richards-trained mare, installing her as a loose second favourite behind her Te Rapa conqueror Endless Drama.

Expected to race in a handy position, that plan went out the window when she dwelt slightly at the start. Rider Michael Mcnab was forced to bide his time near last in a strung-out field as rank outsider Deerfield set up a hectic speed.

Mcnab didn’t panic as he eased his charge to the outside to track up Endless Drama and Wyndspelle around the home bend, before angling for clear running at the 350m.

Melody Belle let down with a devastating sprint to collar Wyndspelle and Helena Baby with 50m to run, as Mcnab rose high in the irons to celebrate.

‘‘This is just unreal,’’ Mcnab said. ‘‘With the work that has been put in by the whole Te Akau [training] team, I had a good feeling.

‘‘We stepped slow and I thought that was plan A definitely gone as I was going to go forward.

‘‘So, I went back and got in, and across the top I saw Endless Drama out posted, and I thought he would take me far enough.

‘‘We chased him and then sucked up and sucked up, and when she got out, she let rip – just an amazing horse.

‘‘She’s a no-frills type of horse and just a real warhorse.’’

Richards confirmed the mare would return to Hastings for the Windsor Park Plate (1600m) in three weeks, before tackling the Livamol Classic (2040m) on October 5. The mare is hot favourite to be crowned New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Horse of the Year at the annual awards ceremony on September 8.