Racing

Moving Melody hits winning note for Rae

Jess de Lautour

30 Aug 2026 — 2 min read

Moving Melody winning the Echoes Of Heaven At Clearview Park Open (1000m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Race Images South

Former northerner Moving Melody (Deep Field) made the perfect start to her career in the South Island with a strong winning performance in the Echoes Of Heaven At Clearview Park Open (1000m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

In the stable of Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley, the daughter of Deep Field won two races before consistently competing in stakes company, her best result a third in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) behind Force Of Nature and subsequent Group One winner Jaarffi.

Now in the care of Riccarton trainer Terri Rae, Moving Melody looked sharp in an 800m trial win at Timaru earlier this month and started a short-priced favourite first-up over the sprint trip.

Showing good early speed, the mare headed forward and settled in behind the leading trio of La Bella Nera, Mr Fortrus and I’munstoppable. A gap came at the top of the straight and Moving Melody cruised through for jockey Triston Moodley, hitting the lead and holding a good margin to La Bella Nera at the line, with Trobriand closing off strongly into third.

Rae was pleased with the mare’s performance, praising the ride of Moodley and his work behind the scenes with Moving Melody.

“She had a nice trial and seems versatile - she didn’t worry about the ground yesterday,” she said. “Triston rode her well and he’s ridden her quite a lot up north, he also comes into the stable to ride her in her work.

“It worked out nicely, he is a really nice little rider and a nice fella as well, he’s doing well down here.”

Owned by Kevin Sun, Moving Melody’s main target this side of Christmas is the New Zealand Cup Week carnival, held at her new home track.

“She’s come down here and her main target will be the Breeders’ (Gr.3, 1400m) at Cup Week, she may even back up in the Stewards (Listed, 1200m) on the last day,” Rae said.

“We’re looking to get a little bit more black type with her and another couple of wins. She’s not very big and as a two-win horse, she came down with 83 points.

“We’ve just got to work back and see what she can run in, in between times. She tries hard, she’s a nice little mare.”

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