Melody Belle vulnerable for the Hollindale, says Richards

Reigning New Zealand horse of the year Melody Belle will embark on the first steps of her final racing journey at the Gold Coast on Saturday, one which holds plenty of sentiment for her trainer Jamie Richards.

The 14-time Group 1 winner will race in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m), the lead-up to her swansong for her connections in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 22.

“Everything seems to have gone according to plan. We were pretty happy with her trial at Rosehill last week and Ashley [Handley, travelling attendant] is happy with the way she has progressed since then,” Richards said yesterday.

“Over 1800m on Saturday, she might be a shade vulnerable. We’re expecting her to take benefit from this weekend’s race with a view to having her at her peak for the Doomben Cup over 2000m at her next start.”

Melody Belle had her final trackwork gallop at Randwick yesterday before heading to the Gold Coast ahead of her weekend assignment, in which she will be ridden by Opie Bosson from barrier 17.

Richards won’t be at the Gold Coast meeting but plans to head to Doomben for Melody Belle’s final race later this month thanks to the transtasman travel bubble.

“We expect her to run well on Saturday but we think she’s still got a little bit of improvement in her for the Doomben Cup,” Richards said.

Already this year Melody Belle has won twice at Group 1 level, in the Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham and the New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.

She made up good ground to finish sixth in last month’s Group 1 Tancred Stakes ( 2400m) at Rosehill.

The Hollindale Stakes has also attracted fellow Waikato gallopers Tiptronic, who has drawn barrier two for trainer Graham Richardson and jockey Glen Boss, and Two Illicit, drawn six for trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood and jockey Vinnie Colgan.