Racing: Melody Belle ready to equal greatest record in New Zealand racing history
29 Jan, 2021 09:15 AM
4 minutes to read
Melody Belle is hot favourite to win the Thorndon Mile and equal Sunline s record. Photo / Trish Dunell
NZ Herald
By: Michael Guerin
Champion jockey Opie Bosson is certain Melody Belle is ready to equal the greatest record in New Zealand racing history at Trentham on Saturday.
Melody Belle goes into the $200,000 Thorndon Mile on 12 Group 1 wins in her career, with iconic mare Sunline the only New Zealand-trained horse with more victories at the highest level, with 13.
So if Melody Belle can justify her $1.55 favouritism, she joins Sunline and has a shot at passing her at Te Rapa in two weeks.
Racing: Group 1 Waikato sprint next for Callsign Mav
14 Jan, 2021 11:37 PM
8 minutes to read
Jockey Jonathan Riddell drives Callsign Mav (yellow colours) between horses to take the lead in the final stages of last Saturday s $32,500 open 1400m race at Awapuni.
Hawkes Bay Today
By: John Jenkins
Hastings trainer John Bary has elected to stick to his original plan and freshen Callsign Mav for a tilt at the Group 1 $200,000 BCD Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 13 before he steps him up over more ground.
The Atlante 4-year-old produced a herculean effort in lumping 63kg to a convincing win in a 1400m open sprint at Awapuni last Saturday, giving Bary good reason to consider running the horse in the Group 1 $200,000 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on January 30.
Construction of a synthetic track at Awapuni is due to begin in October. Race is also part of a venture to turn 24 hectares of land on Te Wanaka Rd, to the south-west of Palmerston North, into residential development Kikiwhenua. Robertson said he was about to turn 65 and had been working up to 60-70 hours a week, which wasn’t sustainable. “When I arrived we were $11 million in debt. [Now], we are technically debt free. “The business is now set up to be the second-most wealthiest club in the country [after Ellerslie] in the next two to three years.” Robertson said he was proud of his work turning around the finances of Race, an incorporated society.
peter rubery/race images
Ryan Elliot has an armchair ride aboard Beauden as they combine to take out the Listed Japac Marton Cup (2200m).
Exciting stayer Beauden has returned to the scene of his 2020 triumph in the Listed Japac Marton Cup (2200 metres) and made it back-to-back victories in the race with a devastating performance. The Team Rogerson-trained 6-year-old came into the race at Awapuni, Palmerston North, off the back of an emphatic four length win in the Taupō Cup, where regular rider Ryan Elliot had set him alight well before the home turn that day to blitz his race rivals.