Punt Drunk: Yulong splashes the cash on Melody Belle buy
Today’s edition of #PuntDrunk focuses on the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast, with plenty of proven Group-level mares going under the hammer. The likes of Bella Vella, Greysful Glamour, Humma Humma and Nettoyer all fetched a pretty price, and it was no surprise to see a certain Kiwi superstar go for massive money.
That is what 14 Group 1 wins will get you
Wow & just like that she is sold – hard to fathom we will never see her grace our Kiwi shores or Australasian tracks again but we cannot wait to see the mother she becomes – thank you for the extraordinary memories Valerie aka Melody Belle – A$2.6 million girl we love you always! pic.twitter.com/fDxLVThJmp
— Te Akau Racing (@TeAkauRacing) May 25, 2021
The illustrious racing career of Melody Belle is over, but she will continue to be a part of the scene for many years to come. The 14-time Group 1 winner was sold for $2,600,000 to Yulong Investments and is set to service Written Tycoon, one of the country’s most highly regarded sires. The formerly Jamie Richards-trained mare was initially purchased for $57,500, but by the end of her career she was arguably the best female runner of the 2000s to have come out of New Zealand. She collected connections over $4,000,000 in prizemoney and broke the legendary Sunline’s Group 1 record for a Kiwi when winning the Bonecrusher Stakes earlier in the year. Melody Belle wasn’t the only big buy of the day as Mizzy – formerly trained by Anthony Cummings – was sold for $2,200,000, which is quite a remarkable sum for a horse that never won a Group 1 race.
Jockey Jim given the flick
Rothfire is back on the track! 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/adZUBuHIKf
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 25, 2021
Rothfire and Jim Byrne go together like peas and carrots… well, maybe not if you ask trainer Rob Heathcote about racing in Sydney. Rothfire continued his return from injury with a track gallop around Eagle Farm on Tuesday, with a tilt at The Everest firmly on the agenda for this spring. However, Heathcote went as far to say that Rothfire’s defeat in the Golden Rose last year in Sydney was Byrne’s fault. The plan was to ride the horse quiet, but Jim opted to race him up on speed, and ultimately the horse tired late and copped a career-threatening injury in the process. Heathcote has not named a new jockey for his star sprinter, but it will almost certainly be a NSW-based hoop. Safe to say he has a plethora of options.
Wednesday racing tips – May 26, 2021
Punt Drunk’s best bet of the day
Prior to his win at Newcastle, Osamu was the perennial bridesmaid with six runner-up efforts to his name. Trainer Annabel Neasham is flying having just taken out the Group 1 Doomben Cup with Zaaki, and Louise Day’s 2kg claim gets this three-year-old gelding in with a manageable 61kg on his back. He will take some holding out.
About Punt Drunk
Welcome to Punt Drunk! Our new daily column covering all the latest horse racing and punting controversies, dramas and headline news. Have a story or gripe or issue that just grinds your gears? Just hit us up in the comments or contact us page and our jaded, punt hardened Punt Drunk staff will give it the Punt Drunk treatment it deserves. Don’t expect pleasantries or typical racing media fanboy gloss from Punt Drunk – we’re on the punt and we don’t have time to bullshit; the next is about to jump…
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