Bosson To Reunite with Melody Belle

New Zealand Group 1 record-holder Melody Belle (Commands) will end her racing career with a familiar face on her back. With the trans-Tasman travel bubble coming into effect last Monday, Kiwi hoop Opie Bosson will be able to travel to Queensland over the next month to reunite with New Zealand’s darling of the turf for her final two races. Bosson has had a strong association with the mare, having won nine of their 13 starts together. The pairing remains unbeaten in Queensland, having won the Gr2 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm four years ago. They will get their chance to extend that record in the Gr2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at Gold Coast Racecourse on May 8, and the Gr1 Doomben Cup (2000m) a fortnight later. Fortuna Syndicate Manager John Galvin told SENTrack he has received positive reports from trainer Jamie Richards following Melody Belle’s sixth-placed run in the Tancred and he said she is set to trial next week ahead of her Queensland campaign. Galvin, who will travel to Queensland himself to watch her race, revealed, “She has had none of those tying up issues that she had prior to the Tancred. She will stay at Randwick after her trial and she will do her final track gallop there on the Tuesday ahead of the Hollindale Stakes.”

Melody Belle will have two more starts (pic: Trish Dunell)