The early and middle pace of the race will determine Melody Belle’s fate in the 2020 $5m The All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Melody Belle, above, has drawn barrier 5 in the 2020 The All-Star Mile at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Jamie Richards stable was very happy with Melody Belle’s barrier five in the fifteen horse The All-Star Mile field and a good up front tempo will give the multiple Group 1 winning Kiwi mare a chance to beat the three year olds.
“I think with the right run they can,” Te Akau Racing representative Paul Richards told Racenet.
“From five she will be third or fourth maybe. We will see how it plays out. Opie (Bosson) will work that out depending on how the pace is.”
Gun Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson put Melody Belle through her morning paces at Caulfield this and Paul Richards said he was hoping for barrier four or five.
“Opie was here this morning and galloped her and I asked him what barrier he would like and he said four or five would be ideal. So it is great,” Paul Richards said.
Melody Belle is the winner of ten Group 1 races on both sides of the Tasman and includes a win in the Group 1 $1m Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on the first day of the 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Melody Belle has had one lead up run into The All-Star Mile for a third in the Group 1 $500,000 PFD Food Services Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 22 and Paul Ricahrds said the stable is very happy with her progress and will ease her into Saturday’s The All-Star Mile.
“Very happy (with her),” Paul Richards said.
“She will go to the beach tomorrow, a bit of three quarter on Thursday and just a quiet day on Friday.”
Melody Belle is well in contention in the betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for The All-Star Mile and is the second pick at $5 behind the people’s favourite Alligator Blood at $2.70.
Alligator Blood is coming off a win in the Group 1 $1m Kennedy Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on February 29 and the David Vandyke trained three year old will make it six wins on the trot if he can get the judge’s decision again.
Regular rider Ryan Maloney will again be aboard Alligator Blood who will jump from gate ten.
