Cheveley Stud’s well performed young stallion Wylie Hall is from a very much in-form family, and he gained another boost to his catalogue page when his close relative Melody Belle captured Saturday’s G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on Saturday.
In a desperate finish to the 1400m contest, the game Melody Belle kept going to win by half a length, as race favourite.
Now a seven time winner from 14 outings, Melody Belle pushed her earnings to over $1.1 million with her win on Saturday. Her previous victories included the G1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes, with Melody Belle having also captured the G2 Foxbridge Plate last time out when making her seasonal reappearance.
The win was also the first Group One trophy for trainer Jamie Richards in his own right after he took over the reins at the powerful Te Akau Racing operation at the start of the new season.
“I’d just like to give a big thank you to all the staff at home,” Richards said. “Obviously there have been a few changes in the new season. I’m only the name in the book as I can’t do it all so this is a very emotional win and I’m very proud of the team.”
Richards was fulsome in his praise for Melody Belle who was having her second start in this campaign after winning the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa last month to kick off her four-year-old season.
“It was a terrific win and a terrific ride,” he said “We were really pleased how she came through the Te Rapa run. She’s a filly who loves being out in the paddock when she can, so we had a couple of fine days where we were able to get her out there.”
Richards was keen to see how the mare comes through her effort before deciding on her next challenge but wasn’t ruling out a tilt at the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) on the second day of the carnival.
Melody Belle is a daughter of Danehill sire Commands, while Wylie Hall is a son of Danehill’s triple Australian Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice.
The pair are both descended in female line from the important mare Belle Time.
Wylie Hall, whose first crop race this season, was among the best of his generation in South Africa. The earner of more than R3.644 million in prize money, Wylie Hall won or placed in nine graded or listed races, with his victories including both the G1 SA Derby and G1 Champions Challenge.
The handsome bay was also first past the post (subsequently demoted to second) in the 2014 Vodacom Durban July where he accounted for champions Capetown Noir, Cherry On The Top Futura, and In The Fast Lane, as well as triple G1 winner Captain America and Triple Crown winner Louis The King.
His sire Redoute’s Choice has enjoyed considerable success in this country, with his representatives also including the Equus Champions Majmu, Mustaaqeem and Musir.
Wylie Hall also enjoyed first crop success at the 2018 National Two Year Old Sale, where his daughter Wylie Wench was the third top lot sold, when knocked down to Varsfontein Stud for R600 000.