Belardo recorded his first winner on Sunday. Photo: Trish Dunell
Multiple Group One winner and Haunui Farm shuttle sire, Belardo recorded his first winner on Sunday when Golden Melody scored at the first time of asking at Haydock.
The juvenile filly, trained by William Haggas, started 4-1 co-third favourite in the seven-runner novice event over 1200m and ran out an eye-catching two and a quarter-length winner over Star Of Emaraaty.
James Doyle, the winning jockey, was impressed with the filly’s professional attitude and ability.
“They said Golden Melody was quite professional in her work and she showed it there. Once she got organised she powered away nicely.”
Belardo, a son Lope de Vega, was also a debut winner at two. He went on to win the Listed Washington Singer Stakes (1400m) at Newbury before capturing his first Group One in the Dewhurst Stakes (1400m).
His three-year-old season was marred by near-misses with a number of Group placings before he went on at four to claim the Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes (1600m). He then finished runner-up to Tepin in the Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) in what was voted the best male performance of Royal Ascot 2016 and resulted in him retiring with a Timeform rating of 126.
Belardo’s first crop of southern hemisphere progeny sold in January at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Sales series where he achieved a Book 1 average of $106,000 with a top price of $210,000.
Belardo’s service fee for the coming breeding season is $10,000 plus GST.
