2017 JJ Atkins Next for BRC Sires’ Winner Melody Belle

May 27, 2017

2017 JJ Atkins Next for BRC Sires’ Winner Melody Belle

There looks to be nothing stopping the New Zealand-trained filly Melody Belle in the JJ Atkins next-up after her runaway 2017 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes win first-up at Eagle Farm Racecourse.

Sacred Elixir

Melody Belle is out to be the second New Zealand-trained two-year-old in as many years to win the JJ Atkins joining Sacred Elixir (pictured). Photo: Daniel Costello.

Prepared across the Tasman by Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, the well-bred Commands filly made the trip down under having won three of her five career starts back home.

Melody Belle’s last start produced a Group 1 Sires’ win over 1400m on April 1 and she went into the $250,000 Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in Brisbane on Kingsford-Smith Cup Day on the back of an important Deagon trial over 1050m when second on May 9 in the hit-out.

“She trialled really well there,” co-trainer Richards said post-win on Saturday.

“She’s a robust little filly when she wants to be.”

That trial was on Heavy going and despite being untested on a mud track under race conditions, she proved she could handle the conditions without a worry with her five lengths win on the Heavy (8) Eagle Farm course.

“We didn’t expect her to put them away [today] the way she did on the ground,” Richards admitted.

“We were mindful that she hadn’t run in a little while…and it was the 1400m on the Heavy ground.”

Ridden by Kiwi hoop Opie Bosson, Melody Belle was up on speed early in the Group 2 lead-up into the $600,000 Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) that runs at the same track on Stradbroke Handicap Day, June 10.

Eventual last-past-the-post Ours To Keep was taken to the front setting the pace ahead of Godolphin’s Malahat, Ruby Red Heart and the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Taking Aim who was ridden by Hugh Bowman from a wide alley.

Melody Belle meanwhile got into a nice position settled about fifth in running.

“It was a super ride from Opie,” Richards said.

“He put her in a gun spot.”

Bosson began his move on the favourite who was looming large as the turn for home approached, Bowman also moving up at this stage on last start Group 3 Ken Russell winner over 1200m at the Gold Coast Taking Aim.

Team Snowden’s progressive Choisir colt Taking Aim briefly hit the front before being tackled by Melody Belle who shot out to race five lengths clear and charge home in a very dominant performance.

Rounding out the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes trifecta in third was the lightly-raced Gregory Hickman-trained Pierro colt Pierata in just his third trip to the races.

It is now onwards and upwards to the JJ Atkins with Melody Belle sure to jump dominant favourite in markets for the Group 1 in a fortnight.

“She should improve further hopefully,” Richards said.

“She’s by Commands out of a good staying sort of New Zealand family so hopefully in two weeks she’ll be spot on.”

Bosson agreed that Melody Belle now looked the one to beat in next month’s JJ Atkins with a mile to be right up her alley.

“She’s just relaxed super and going to a mile next time will be ideal,” he said.

The last two-year-old to complete the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes – JJ Atkins double was Sizzling (2012), while the New Zealand-trained Sacred Elixir won the Group 1 last year improving on a lead-up sixth in the Sires’.

To check out the updated JJ Atkins 2017 odds on today’s BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Melody Belle head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.

2017 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Eagle Farm Race 3 – 27/05/2017

Place # Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Br. Wgt. SP
1 14 MELODY BELLE (NZ) Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards Opie Bosson 7 55kg $5F
2 3 TAKING AIM Peter & Paul Snowden Hugh Bowman 4.1L 15 57kg $8
3 13 PIERATA Gregory Hickman Corey Brown 5.4L 5 57kg $16
4 5 SAINT PATRICKS DAY Chris Munce Ronnie Stewart 8.2L 6 57kg $21
5 7 CAPITAL GAIN Paul Butterworth Jim Byrne 8.3L 4 57kg $13
6 4 ALL TOO HUIYING Gary Moore Brenton Avdulla 11.1L 3 57kg $10
7 9 QIJI PHOENIX Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs Leith Innes 11.2L 18 57kg $8.50
8 16 MARSEILLE EN FLEUR Stuart Kendrick Luke Tarrant 12.5L 11 55kg $101
9 10 PAH TERIE Kelly Schweida Mark Zahra 12.6L 14 57kg $61
10 1 TANGLED Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 13L 8 57kg $7
11 11 MALAHAT Darren Beadman James Doyle 13.5L 13 57kg $6.50
12 17 RUBY RED HEART John Zielke Luke Dittman 13.7L 2 55kg $61
13 6 EMINENT David Vandyke Michael Cahill 15.2L 17 57kg $81
14 8 MISHANI BULLITT Chris Anderson Brad Stewart 20L 1 57kg $51
15 18 SHOWASHADOW Peter & Will Hulbert Micheal Hellyer 20.3L 9 55kg $101
16 12 NOBLE HUSSLER Liam Birchley Jeff Lloyd 24.6L 16 57kg $81
17 15 CHAMP ELECT Chris Munce Damian Browne 26.1L 10 55kg $61
18 2 OURS TO KEEP Chris Munce Dwayne Dunn 28.6L 12 57kg $41
22e ICON OF DUBAI Peter & Paul Snowden 0
23e CRUZE Barry Lockwood 0
21e ITALIA BELLA Stuart Kendrick 0
19e LORD CECIL Paul Messara Blake Shinn 0
20e SNITZEPEG Darren Weir Damian Lane 0

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