The winner of this G1 1400m at WFA for all comers in Melody Belle defended her crown from last year with a business as usual victory and she came from the farthest back in distance from the leaders and numerically all day. They did go hard up front and set up the quinella to be two swampers it needs to be noted. Not one leader won all day on the ten-race card and considering there was a clear faster strip on the inside that is staggering. Seven of the ten winners were on the fence or no worse than three-off and of those four turned in on the rail. Leaders turning for home finished in race order third, third, second, second, fifth, third, third, fifth, fourth and second, so the anomaly is in fact that none could win. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were seventh (three-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), fifth (two-off the inside and a length and a half from the leader), third (on the fence and two lengths from the leader), eighth (on the fence and four lengths from the leader), second (one-off the inside and a length from the leader), eighth (on the fence and four lengths from the leader), third (two-off the inside and a length from the leader), seventh (on the fence and three lengths from the leader), fourteenth (six-off the inside and four and a half lengths from the leader) and seventh (four-off the inside and three lengths from the leader). Melody Belle was in the rear quartet away and sat second last the outer on settling before improving a shade wide across the top. The 5yo mare was still third last turning for home but working into clear air at the 300m and about to be detonated. Her surge down the outer in lanes barely used all day (ten-off the fence) saw her go from tenth at the 200m to be an ominous third at the 100m and lead with 50m to go. She scored by just under a length and clocked a slick 1:22.12 to record her twelfth win from twenty-two starts and of those dozen an impressive seven have come at G1. The mare was dominant last season as the WFA depth is very poor in New Zealand and has been for several years now, so it looks like she will be beating up basically the same usual suspects again. The runner up today was the proverbial G1 gunner in Wyndspelle that now has been six times placed at the top level and seems destined to be always the groomsman rather than the groom. He has only won three races from thirty-five starts so is allergic to winning and today after being in the rear quartet away with the winner Melody Belle recovered to be eighth or ninth on settling. The 6yo entire turned for home ninth and just inside Melody Belle then surged at the same time as her and actually was narrowly ahead of her at all times from the 300m to final 50m before once again finding one more better. Will he ever win a G1 and remember they are so much easier in New Zealand than Australia by a significant margin? He must be getting sick of Melody Belle staying at home again for another season and not trying to prove her G1 bona fides in Australia. Helena Baby ran a game third beaten just over a length and the fact he is a G1 force at WFA in New Zealand at his ninth start says more about the opposition and lack of depth. He trailed the leaders on the inner and came off turning for home and led at the 200m before being run over the final 50m. Shadows Cast raced outsider the leader and led turning for home before being headed at the 200m and was fourth at the 100m but fought on well. He is a handicapper as shown by his single G1 mile win under set weights and penalties but also proven by four runs at G1 under WFA for two sixths, an eighth and a thirteenth. The dept at WFA must be getting weaker if he can now finish fourth. Danzdanzdance ran on well the inside fresh up for fifth and once she gets to the mile and 2000m the mare is then in her element or striking zone. Comeback, which ran third at G2 under WFA over 1200m in his lead up run and beat home Melody Belle by one spot then, finished sixth today beaten three lengths. He raced just ahead of the midfield on the fence and worked off near the home turn then poked through to be fourth at the 200m before wilting a tad. Comeback is a handicapper only in reality so to finish that close today at G1 under WFA is astounding and even more so when he was found to be lame afterwards with a left fore carpal joint injury. Santa Monica, also a handicapper only, settled down ninth or tenth the inner and then poked through to be third briefly at the 200m before wilting. Sleeping Beauty was a fair eighth and More Wonder likewise ninth. Dark Princess from last passed a few late while Amarula wilted and is a handicapper only. He Kin Fly at $50 plugged on late the last bit from well back on settling to be beaten six and a half lengths and it is worth considering today was his first run at G1 at WFA and in fact his first run in any Group level race. Endless Drama the favourite was a big flop and once again he cracked at G1 so seems destined to never get one and if he cannot score one in New Zealand then where does he go? He got trapped wide in the midfield and never got any cover and was even deeper across the top so the overlander took a toll and he ended up beaten seven and a half lengths. Some horses are destined to never get the G1 monkey off their back. Deefield as rank outsider at $129 led up and then once headed turning for home stopped to be beaten over ten lengths. Aalaalune a maiden filly was ridden against her usual pattern of sit back and boom home by attacking for the lead as she had only 48.5kg on her back at WFA. The filly was struggling turning for home and stopped to be beaten eleven lengths and she needs a win kill to get back that racehorse confidence so it may be back to the drawing board again. The Bandito was the second outsider at $110 and got back and wide and was outclassed. This was not a very deep field at all with a lot of the same names that are not competitive at G1 under WFA plus several in this were hopelessly out of their grade and are handicappers only. Melody Belle had them all on toast last season so ditto this time beating up the same names proves nothing and it is the lure of winning the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown for the first time that seems the reason to stay at home. No horse has done it before so etching her own place in history seems to be the thinking as no extra G1 wins in New Zealand are adding too her value anymore. Danzdanzdance is the biggest improver but she is heading to Australia chasing more meaningful black type now. More Wonder is the next biggest improver and might be more a handicapper at this stage while Helena Baby may stay for the second leg of the Triple Crown over a mile now and try for a G1 at just his tenth start.