Melody Belle Claims 2nd Horse of the Year Title

There have been some outstanding race mares in New Zealand and on Sunday night, the Haunui born and raised MELODY BELLE (NZ) (Commands), cemented her place in racing history as she took out the New Zealand Horse of the Year title for the second year.

In a season that saw MELODY BELLE land four G1 races, and in the process becoming the first to take out the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown, it was hard to see the award going any other way and the fact that she won seven G1 races in 2019, places her amongst the best that we have seen in New Zealand.

Bred by Marie Leicester, Haunui Farm’s longest standing client, the award capped off a fruitful few weeks with Marie’s lovely mare, MELEKA BELLE (NZ) (Iffraaj), the dam of MELODY BELLE, crowned Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

Marie also received the Seaton Otway trophy for Horse of the Year as breeder of MELODY BELLE, as voted by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association at the inaugural Ebbett VW Hamilton National Breeding Awards. You can view that presentation and a quick re-cap of MELODY BELLE’S season, here.

Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty says, “We’re certainly very proud to have foaled and raised MELODY BELLE here at Haunui Farm. Marie has been a client of Haunui for many, many years and no one deserves more success. To be entrusted with all of her bloodstock is a great honour for all of us here at Haunui and MELODY BELLE’S dam, MELEKA BELLE holds a very special place here at the farm.”

MELEKA BELLE recently foaled a lovely filly (pictured) by SNITZEL, notably born on Annie Sarten’s birthday – Marie’s mother. Marie has retained a TAVISTOCK 3YO filly out of the mare who is in the stable of Jamie Richards and, the NOT A SINGLE DOUBT yearling filly and all going well over the coming weeks, MELEKA BELLE will head to Australia to be covered by PIERRO.