Belardo strikes early as Golden Melody gives Darley sire first winner at Haydock

First winners for new sires are flowing thick and fast and Belardo got in on the act on Sunday when Golden Melody scored at the first time of asking at Haydock.

The juvenile filly, trained by William Haggas for Ian and Christine Beard and family, started 4-1 co-third favourite in the seven-runner novice event over six furlongs and ran out an eyecatching two and a quarter-length winner over Star Of Emaraaty.

Ennistown Stud bred Belardo's first winner out of the Lomitas mare Chanter.

Belardo - like Air Force Blue, who also had his first winner over the weekend - was a European champion two-year-old on the racetrack, thanks to a superb campaign that culminated with victory in the Dewhurst Stakes.

He went on to finish second to crack miler Solow in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes before landing the Lockinge Stakes at four.

Belardo, whose grandsire is the much-missed Shamardal - stands at Darley's Kildangan Stud in Ireland at a fee of €10,000.

Golden Melody fared considerably better than Belardo's first runner, Porfin at Newmarket on Thursday, who was not able to show his SP of 100-1 to be all wrong.

James Doyle, the winning jockey at Haydock, reflected: "They said Golden Melody was quite professional in her work and she showed it there. Once she got organised she powered away nicely."

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