Monday, March 15, 2021 | Dedicated to the Australasian bloodstock industry - subscribe for free: Click here NEXT STOP SYDNEY ON THE MELODY BELLE FAREWELL TOUR - PAGE 1 Monday, March 15, 2021 | Dedicated to the Australasian bloodstock industry - subscribe for free: Click here ROCKET TIGER PROVIDES LARNEUK WITH FIRST SLIPPER RUNNER - PAGE 13 SINGAPORE NEWS - PAGE 14 Next stop Sydney Read Tomorrow's Issue For Stallion Watch on the Melody Belle Kiwi Chronicles What's on Race meetings: Nowra (NSW), Scone (NSW) farewell tour Barrier trials / Jump-outs: Nowra (NSW), A tilt at the Tancred Stakes among options connections are Rosehill (NSW), Scone (NSW), Cranbourne considering with record-breaking mare (VIC), Belmont (WA) International meetings: Greyville (RSA), Wolverhampton (UK) Sales: Inglis Digital March (Early) Sale, Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale SALES NEWS Magic Millions optimistic ahead of March Yearling Sale The two-day Gold Coast March Yearling Sale gets Melody Belle winning the 2019 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington RACING PHOTOS underway today and Magic Millions are hoping The Jamie Richards-trained superstar the momentum from recent major sales in BY JO MCKINNON | @ANZ_NEWS mare’s history-making 14 Group 1 wins have Australasia will roll on to Queensland. hampion racehorse Melody Belle all, bar one, been in her home country and The first half of the 420-lot catalogue will (Commands) might have run her managing owner John Galvin wants to add to be presented to buyers from 10am (AEST) this last race in New Zealand at the that tally on Australian soil, ideally in Sydney, morning and Queensland locals will be hoping weekend but she still has some before her retirement at the end of this to source their next star from a sale that has an Cunfinished business across the Tasman. campaign. Continued on page 2>> impressive roll of honour. Sales News page 11 >> MON 15TH - TUE 16TH MARCH MM GOLD COAST MARCH YEARLING SALE SALE LIVE - VIEW HERE ENTER NOW JULY 24 -29 ONLINE SALE ENTRIES CLOSE JULY 22. Featuring broodmares, yearlings and racing stock. TUECatalogue 12TH available at inglisdigital.com - WED 19TH MARCH INGLIS DIGITAL MARCH (EARLY) SALE SALE LIVE - VIEW HERE Follow us @anz_news | 1 | Brought to you by Next stop Sydney on the Melody Belle farewell tour | 2 | Monday, March 15, 2021 << Continued from page 1 The authority of her milestone win in the Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) on Saturday, where she beat her stablemate and fellow multiple Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock) by a length and a quarter, went a long way to giving Galvin and the rest of the six-year-old mare’s band of connections the necessary courage to consider taking on some of Australia’s best in the Emerald City before her race bridle is hung up for good. FOR JAMIE, AND I, OUR LAST BURNING AMBITION IS TO WIN WITH HER IN SYDNEY - JOHN GALVIN “Our future plans were to be decided on the result on Saturday. She needed to win and win well to consider coming to Australia again and she did that,” said Galvin. Melody Belle’s sole elite-level success in Australia came in the 2019 edition of the Empire Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington and during L-R: Joshua, Jasmine, James, Jessica and John Galvin JOHN GALVIN her most recent mission over the ditch she had only one start and that resulted in a third placing behind Arcadia Queen (Pierro) and Fifty Stars Now she’s all armoured up and ready to return to the highly (Sea The Stars) when beaten a shade over two and a half lengths in the competitive Sydney scene to prove herself outside the confines of her Mackinnon Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Flemington in November. home country once again. Continued on page 4>> Stud Farm Manager – Middlebrook Valley Lodge iddlebrook Valley Lodge is a boutique The successful applicant will be self-motivated Magistment and consignment business that is and possess excellent planning, organisational and based in Scone, Hunter Valley, NSW. practical skills. We have a first-rate reputation for producing A broad range of industry knowledge, skills and quality horses and are seeking a passionate farm experience are required for this role. manager to help build on this legacy. This role shall also suit applicants to have a This role is a unique opportunity to join a well- technology flare. You must be comfortable and established farm and work alongside a renowned skilled in using technology and software. senior farm manager in the housing, breeding, health, training and selling of horses. In return you will be pleased to have an autonomous work environment and long-term The position’s responsibilities include, but are not security in a dynamic organisation. limited to: • Handling of mares, foals and yearlings An attractive remuneration package based on • Sale co-ordination and logistics experience, including accommodation, will be • Assisting the vet and farrier offered to the successful applicant. • Daily management of staff • Providing excellent communication with clients Please contact us on and other stakeholders [email protected] • Business planning and development to apply or for further details. Follow us @anz_news | 2 | Brought to you by SWORD OF STATE, Winner of the Group 1 Sistema Stakes Congratulations to Te Akau 2020 Four Colt Breeding Syndicate Jockey: Opie Bosson Well done to Breeder: Sir Owen Glenn Purchaser: David Ellis Trainer: NEWGATE.com.au Jamie Richards +61 (02) 6543 8395 #RaisingRacehorses Next stop Sydney on the Melody Belle farewell tour | 4 | Monday, March 15, 2021 << Continued from page 2 Galvin said they are considering several options there, including the Tancred Stakes (Gr 1, 2400m) in two weeks’ time at Rosehill Gardens. “Jamie (Richards) and I had a brief chat after the race and we are now thinking about the Tancred. She has never run a mile and a half before but the way she's been running out 2000 metres that could be an obvious target.” SHE WILL GO ON THE MARKET FOR PUBLIC AUCTION UNLESS THERE'S A COMPELLING PRIVATE OFFER IN THE MEANTIME - JOHN GALVIN Melody Belle TRISH DUNELL Or, he said, they might reserve her for day two of the Championships at Randwick on April 10 with either the Coolmore Legacy (Gr 1, 1600m) or now have common links down at the local pub or club and now have a the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) on the agenda. circle of friends that follow her career. It's been a wonderful down to earth “For Jamie, and I, our last burning ambition is to win with her in Kiwi story for us.” Sydney.” Melody Belle has earned her group of humble owners just over $4 Whilst Melody Belle now holds the all-time record for the number of million in prize-money and they look set for another decent financial Group 1s won by a New Zealand-trained thoroughbred, those close to her windfall when she goes to public auction to be sold as a broodmare still have a mighty respect for Sunline (Desert Sun), the mare that, until prospect. now, had stood before her in the record books. “She will be sold at auction. Our syndicate is too big with too much “Let's put things in perspective. Sunline won most of her Group 1s in disparity in age group of members to retain her as a broodmare so she will Australia and Melody Belle has won most of hers in New Zealand, so it’s go on the market for public auction unless there's a compelling private not fair to give complete comparisons.” offer in the meantime. Casting the public’s comparisons to greats of the past aside, Galvin, “There’s no decision about which sale that will be, we are just who heads the Fortuna Melody Belle Syndicate, said it had been an concentrating on her racing career at the moment,” he said. “amazing” ride with the mare they paid just $57,500 for at the 2016 Karaka Galvin, along with his wife Jessica and their three young children, are Yearling Sale. savouring every single joyous moment of the journey with Melody Belle as “We always buy to budget and our budget and brief that year for it winds to an inevitable end. David Ellis was let’s buy a nicely bred filly that is capable of competing in “Our children have grown up with Melody Belle. Around the house a Karaka Million and we don't want to spend anymore than $80,000. He we have all her photos and trophies. It has been very, very special from a delivered under budget and a champion mare. family and personal point of view. “It's been a wonderful story. It’s amazing for the ownership group of “It has been really life changing for not just me and my family but the 34 that are from all over New Zealand and often from little places. People rest of the ownership group as well.” Grid Based Nicks Report... visit arion.co.nz ... go to Data Centre for all the up-to-date information Arion Pedigrees www.arion.co.nz Follow us @anz_news | 4 | Brought to you by SEE THEM SHINE 2021 MAGIC MILLIONS NATIONAL SALE SERIES The best buying bench, the best results “To get a buying bench has not been easy. Magic Millions have done a great job and it’s full credit to them. They’ve cobbled together some good results in very difficult circumstances.” Jon Freyer, Arrowfield “The effort that went into selling Sunlight and other mares was quite special and it was only the relationships that Magic Millions can lean on that made that success.” Vin Cox, Godolphin “Magic Millions have done a wonderful job communicating with all the vendors and buyers, keeping everyone in the loop and made a good decision delaying the sale for a week.