Melody Belle can recoup late fee with J.J. Atkins win

Short priced favourite Melody Belle can recoup her late entry fee with plenty of interest if she can win the Group 1 $600,000 BMW J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Hugh Bowman, above, rides Taking Aim in the J.J. Atkins at Doomben. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Hugh Bowman, above, rides Taking Aim in the J.J. Atkins at Doomben. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Melody Belle’s is raced by New Zealand’s Te Akau Racing who had to pay a late nomination fee of $18,000 to reinstate the Commands filly back into the J.J. Atkins field after they inadvertently missed the pay up time for the first acceptances last week.

A victory in the J.J. Atkins will see Melody Belle collected the winning cheque of $384,000.

Te Akau Racing also forked out another $18,000 to have three year old Shocking Luck put back into the field for the Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2200m) on Saturday after he was also left out of the first acceptances.

Principal David Ellis admits it was the stables’ fault and is anxiously looking forward to Saturday’s Racing at Doomben.

“It was our fault,” Ellis told The Courier-Mail.

“Now we’re looking forward to the weekend and absolutely our goal and our attitude is to turn it into a good investment.”

Melody Belle and Shocking Luck went through their final paces on Tuesday morning and race day jockey Opie Bosson was very pleased with the way they strode out.

“He was thrilled with how they worked,” Ellis said.

“The team has done a fantastic job with them.”

Kiwi filly Melody Belle came to Brisbane with a huge reputation after winning the NZ$1m Karaka Million (1200m) at Ellerslie in New Zealand on January 29 and the Group 1 NZ$225,000 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni in New Zealand on April 1.

The Commands filly didn’t let her supporters down at her first run on Australian ground and scored a runaway win in the Group 2 $250,000 Mitavite BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 27 which cemented her place at the top of the J.J. Atkins market order at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Melody Belle has continued to firm in the betting for the J.J.Atkins and on Thursday was a clear cut favourite at $2, well ahead of her nearest rivals Capital Gain at $8 and Taking Aim at $8.50.

The Paul Butterworth trained Capital Gain will be wearing the blinkers for the first time and will be flying the flag for the locals after finishing fifth in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Taking Aim is racing in good form and has collected a cheque for Team Snowden at his two Queensland runs during the Winter Racing Carnival after winning the Group 3 $125,000 Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on May 6 followed by a second in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.