The team behind Melody Belle have to decide whether they want to target the Aussies or a New Zealand racing icon. Or both.
The glamour mare has given herself options on both sides of the Tasman by walloping our best weight-for-age gallopers in the $250,000 Livamol at Hastings on Saturday, coming from near last even though the pace was against back runners.
"Troy (Harris) said she nearly fell asleep in the gates and that is why she was slow out," laughed trainer Jamie Richards. "But it all worked out well. She is flying."
So much so Richards and the Fortuna Syndicate which own the 6-year-old need to decide whether they return to Australia this spring, even though she failed there just two months ago.
Melody Belle returned home with her tail between her legs after two substandard Sydney runs to start her spring but has looked right back in the zone here, with Saturday's win her 12th at Group 1 level. That puts her just one behind New Zealand racing's greatest heroine Sunline and the way she won on Saturday, if Melody Belle stays in New Zealand and races up to that form she would end the season as our greatest Group 1 winner.