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Melody Belle lines up in Herbie Dyke looking to set the record for most Group 1 wins by a New Zealand-trained horse

The Jamie Richards-trained Melody Belle (Commands) is out to set the record for the most Group 1 wins by a New Zealand-trained horse when she lines up in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. 

The six-year-old mare won the Thorndon Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Trentham on January 30 and Richards believes that the 2000 metres is her ideal trip. 

“I think she has gone the right way,” Richards said. “It was important that we had her forward enough to run well and also handle the travel to Wellington.

“She hasn’t missed a beat since she has been home. She has done some nice work and I am really happy with where she is at for the weekend.

“I think it is her pet trip now. In all of her track work and all of her races she always runs around the corner and takes a long time to pull up, indicating that she wants to go a bit further.

“Her 2000 metre record is very strong and if she is able to find her Australian form from the spring, where she was so good in a Mackinnon, that should have her being competitive on Saturday.”

Richards will also saddle Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in the BCD Sprint (Gr 1, 1400m), Perfect Scenario (Iffraaj) in the Waikato Guineas (Gr 2, 200m) and Amarelinha (Savabeel) in the Fillies Classic (Gr 2, 2000m) while in Australia he will have runners at both Flemington and Randwick. 

Brando (Savabeel) will line up in the CS Hayes Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington which he is using as a stepping stone to the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) while at Randwick Kahma Lass (Darci Brahma) will run in the Light Fingers Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m). 

“I will be keeping a close eye on the weather everywhere and relying on the great staff that we have in Australia, like Craig Thornton in Sydney and Ashely Handley in Melbourne,” Richards said.

“We have got a good support crew around us. We have been travelling horses there for a little while now and made good contacts. Brad Taylor is a big help to us in Melbourne and John Thompson has been a really big help in Sydney, clocking horses and giving us advice.

“Fortunately, we have got a good team around us.”

Raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, Richards is hoping for a solid performance from the Group 1-winning filly Kahma Lass in her first Australian assignment.

“She is ready to run well,” Richards said. “She trialled in a pretty hot heat at Rosehill behind Nature Strip and Bivouac. She trialled well here at Matamata behind Probabeel before she got on the plane.

“We are expecting her to run well. She is up against proven horses like Away Game, and a good field of fillies in a good race.”

Brando meanwhile has also pleased Richards and is stepping back up to 1400 metres. 

“I am pleased with him and I think he has gone the right way,” Richards said. “He has had a month between runs and is back to 1400 metres with the blinkers on.

“He had an exhibition gallop at Pukekohe before he went over and did some nice work on Tuesday morning. Jye McNeil (jockey) came in and rode him and I think everything has gone according to plan.”