Melody Lane (horse)
| |
|---|---|
 Melody Lane at the 2019 Kikuka Sho | |
| Breed | Thoroughbred |
| Sire | Orfevre |
| Grandsire | Stay Gold |
| Dam | Mowen |
| Damsire | Motivator |
| Sex | Mare |
| Foaled | 12 February 2016 |
| Country | Japan |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Okada Stud |
| Owner | Makio Okada (LEX PRO) |
| Racing colours |  |
| Trainer | Naoyuki Morita |
| Jockey |
|
| Record | 36: 4-0-4 |
| Earnings | ¥85,909,000 |
Melody Lane (Japanese: メロディーレーン, Merodī Rēn; foaled 12 February 2016) is a retired Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She recorded four wins from thirty-six starts between 2018 and 2024, and finished fifth in the 2019 Kikuka Shō (GI).[1] She held multiple JRA minimum bodyweight records, having raced between 330 kg and 358 kg, and is the older half-sister of Titleholder.[2][3] Her name means "a cultivar of camellia".[4]
Background
Melody Lane is a bay mare bred in Shinhidaka, Hokkaido, by Okada Stud.[2] She was sired by Orfevre, a son of Stay Gold, and her dam was Mowen (GB), a mare by Motivator who won the 2013 Tancho Stakes.[5] She was offered through the LEX PRO ownership system and was owned by Makio Okada.[2] She was trained by Naoyuki Morita at the JRA's Ritto Training Center.[2] Her younger half-brother Titleholder (by Duramente) won the 2021 Kikuka-shō, the 2022 Tennō Shō (Spring), and the 2022 Takarazuka Kinen.[5]
Body weight
The average body weight of a Thoroughbred is between 450 kg and 500 kg.[6] Melody Lane raced between a minimum of 330 kg and a maximum of 358 kg.[1] On 13 October 2018, her debut weight of 336 kg broke the JRA minimum bodyweight record for a two-year-old, previously 340 kg set by Silver Socius in 1979.[3] On 2 March 2019, she ran at 330 kg, equalling the JRA minimum bodyweight record set by Gran Rose.[3] Her winning weight of 340 kg on 15 June 2019 broke the JRA minimum winning bodyweight record of 350 kg set by Jeanne d'Arc in 1972,[7] and her 346 kg win on 24 January 2021 broke the JRA minimum special-race winning weight record since 1986 by 20 kg.[8] Her 340 kg at the 2019 Kikuka Shō was the minimum bodyweight for a graded stakes runner in JRA history.[9]
Racing career
2018: two-year-old season
Melody Lane debuted on 13 October 2018 in a 2-year-old newcomer race over 1600 metres on turf at Kyoto Racecourse. Ridden by apprentice jockey Hayato Mitsuya, she started 16th favourite and finished 10th.[1] She ran twice more in maiden races that year, finishing third on 25 November and sixth on 23 December.[1]
2019: three-year-old season
She began the season on 2 March at Kokura Racecourse, finishing 10th.[1] After three further maiden defeats, she finished third over 2400 metres on 26 May.[1] On 15 June at Hanshin Racecourse, ridden by Mirai Iwata, she recorded her first win, defeating Dandyism by 1.5 seconds at 340 kg.[7]
After a 13th-place finish over 2000 metres on 13 July, she was stepped up to 2600 metres on 28 September at Hanshin. She won by 0.4 seconds in a time of 2:37.1, a Japanese record for turf 2600 metres,[10] at a winning weight of 338 kg.[11] The record stood until 20 March 2021, when it was broken by Divine Force.[10]
As she held no classic nominations, her connections paid a supplementary registration fee of 2 million yen to enter the Kikuka Shō.[12] After the withdrawals of Admire Justa, Admire Squall, and Barack Palinka, she passed the final ballot to secure a run.[13] She was the first filly to contest the Kikuka Shō since Polka Mazurka in 2009.[14] In the race on 20 October at Kyoto, ridden by Ryusei Sakai, she started 12th favourite and finished fifth, 0.4 seconds behind the winner World Premiere, recording the joint-fastest final three furlongs of the race at 35.7 seconds.[15]
She was placed 21st in the Arima Kinen fan vote with 20,118 votes but did not enter the race.[16] She concluded her season on 21 December in the Esaka Special at Hanshin, finishing fourth.[1]
2020: four-year-old season
Melody Lane started the season on 19 January in the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (GII) at Kyoto, carrying top-light 49 kg and finishing ninth.[6] She declined an invitation to the Dubai Gold Cup.[17] On 22 March, she ran in the Hanshin Daishoten (GII), finishing fifth behind You Can Smile, with no time difference to the third and fourth place finishers.[1] On 3 May, she ran in the Tenno Sho (Spring) (GI) at Kyoto, finishing 11th.[1] On 5 July, she finished third in the Hyogo Tokubetsu at Hanshin.[1]
2021: five-year-old season
She began the year on 24 January in the Uminonakamichi Tokubetsu at Kokura. Ridden by Kazuo Yokoyama on heavy ground, she won by 0.2 seconds at 346 kg.[8] She then finished seventh in the Shorai Stakes on 27 February, tenth in the Osaka-Hamburg Cup on 11 April, and 11th in the Tenno Sho (Spring) on 2 May.[1] After a tenth-place finish in the June Stakes on 12 June, she ran in the Takarazuka Kinen (GI) on 27 June, finishing 11th.[1]
On 31 October, she won the Koto Stakes over 3000 metres at Hanshin by 0.1 seconds, entering the open class.[18] The win came one week after Titleholder won the Kikuka Shō over the same course and distance.[19] On 26 December, she met Titleholder directly for the first time in the Arima Kinen (GI), finishing 15th behind Efforia.[1]
2022: six-year-old season
She started the season on 19 February in the Diamond Stakes (GIII) at Tokyo, finishing 13th.[1] On 1 May, she ran in the Tenno Sho (Spring), finishing ninth behind Titleholder.[20] On 26 June, she ran in the Takarazuka Kinen, again won by Titleholder, finishing 13th.[21] She concluded the season on 3 December in the Stayers Stakes (GII) at Nakayama, finishing fifth.[1]
2023: seven-year-old season
She ran four times in 2023: 11th in the Hanshin Daishoten on 19 March, 12th in the Tenno Sho (Spring) on 30 April, tenth in the Tancho Stakes on 3 September, and eighth in the Stayers Stakes on 2 December.[1]
2024: eight-year-old season
She began the season on 6 January in the Manyo Stakes at Kyoto, finishing third.[1] She was withdrawn from the Hanshin Daishoten in March after a bone bruise in her right foreleg,[22] and was excluded from the Tenno Sho (Spring) at the entry stage.[23] On 4 May, she ran in the Metropolitan Stakes (Listed) at Tokyo, finishing seventh in what proved to be her final start.[1]
Although her connections initially intended to continue racing in 2025,[24] swelling in her right foreleg after training on 15 December revealed a recurrence of injury near the deep flexor tendon. Her retirement was announced on 18 December 2024,[25] and her JRA registration was cancelled on 25 December 2024.[2] She entered the broodmare herd at Okada Stud.[26]
Race record
The following table details all 36 starts of Melody Lane's racing career based on official JBIS and netkeiba records. Record current as of her final start on 4 May 2024.[27][1]
| Date | Distance (Condition) | Race | Class | Course | Odds (Favourite) |
Field | Finish | Time | Jockey | Winning (Losing) Margin |
Winner (2nd Place) |
Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Oct 13 | Turf 1600 m (Good) | 2-Y-O Newcomer | Maiden | Kyoto | 351.7 (16th) | 17 | 10th | 1:36.1 | Hayato Mitsuya | 1.8 | Urkraft | [1] |
| Nov 4 | Turf 1800 m (Good) | 2-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Kyoto | 412.7 (15th) | 15 | 13th | 1:51.3 | Hayato Mitsuya | 1.3 | Meisho Climb | [1] |
| Nov 25 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | 2-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Kyoto | 330.1 (12th) | 12 | 3rd | 2:02.3 | Hayato Mitsuya | 0.6 | Hiruno Dakar | [1] |
| Dec 23 | Turf 2000 m (Yielding) | 2-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Hanshin | 70.2 (12th) | 16 | 6th | 2:04.4 | Hayato Mitsuya | 0.5 | R Consensus | [1] |
| 2019 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 2 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | 3-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Kokura | 24.6 (6th) | 18 | 10th | 2:03.0 | Yuji Tannai | 1.5 | Torroja | [1] |
| Mar 24 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | 3-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Chukyo | 176.0 (11th) | 16 | 13th | 2:05.0 | Manabu Sakai | 1.6 | New Ability | [1] |
| Apr 13 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | 3-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Hanshin | 177.4 (11th) | 16 | 7th | 2:03.1 | Manabu Sakai | 1.2 | Red Aurora | [1] |
| Apr 29 | Turf 2000 m (Good) | 3-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Kyoto | 59.4 (9th) | 14 | 6th | 2:02.2 | Hayato Mitsuya | 1.0 | Scar Face | [1] |
| May 26 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | 3-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Kyoto | 63.3 (10th) | 14 | 3rd | 2:27.6 | Arata Saito | 0.6 | Gotto Fleur | [1] |
| Jun 15 | Turf 2400 m (Yielding) | 3-Y-O Maiden | Maiden | Hanshin | 9.3 (5th) | 13 | 1st | 2:28.8 | Mirai Iwata | –1.5 | (Dandyism) | [7] |
| Jul 13 | Turf 2000 m (Yielding) | 1-win class | 1-win | Chukyo | 7.8 (5th) | 15 | 13th | 2:02.2 | Mirai Iwata | 1.4 | Tantalus | [1] |
| Sep 28 | Turf 2600 m (Good) | 1-win class | 1-win | Hanshin | 4.6 (2nd) | 10 | 1st | 2:37.1 | Mirai Iwata | –0.4 | (Sadamu Laputa) | [11] |
| Oct 20 | Turf 3000 m (Good) | Kikuka Shō | GI | Kyoto | 65.7 (12th) | 18 | 5th | 3:06.4 | Ryusei Sakai | 0.4 | World Premiere | [15] |
| Dec 21 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | Esaka Special | 2-win | Hanshin | 3.1 (2nd) | 11 | 4th | 2:25.6 | Mirai Iwata | 0.1 | Barack Palinka | [1] |
| 2020 – four-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 19 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | Nikkei Shinshun Hai | GII | Kyoto | 8.4 (6th) | 14 | 9th | 2:27.9 | Mirai Iwata | 1.0 | Mozu Bello | [6] |
| Mar 22 | Turf 3000 m (Good) | Hanshin Daishōten | GII | Hanshin | 49.0 (10th) | 10 | 5th | 3:03.4 | Mirai Iwata | 0.4 | You Can Smile | [1] |
| May 3 | Turf 3200 m (Good) | Tennō Shō (Spring) | GI | Kyoto | 105.4 (13th) | 14 | 11th | 3:18.2 | Mirai Iwata | 1.7 | Fierement | [1] |
| Jul 5 | Turf 2400 m (Yielding) | Hyogo Special | 2-win | Hanshin | 3.8 (3rd) | 12 | 3rd | 2:28.1 | Kohei Matsuyama | 2.1 | Roll of Thunder | [1] |
| 2021 – five-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 24 | Turf 2600 m (Heavy) | Uminonakamichi Special | 2-win | Kokura | 5.2 (3rd) | 11 | 1st | 2:42.3 | Kazuo Yokoyama | –0.2 | (Admire Polaris) | [8] |
| Feb 27 | Turf 3200 m (Good) | Shorai Stakes | 3-win | Hanshin | 5.2 (3rd) | 14 | 7th | 3:16.1 | Kazuo Yokoyama | 1.2 | Diastima | [1] |
| Apr 11 | Turf 2600 m (Good) | Osaka-Hamburg Cup | Open | Hanshin | 6.5 (2nd) | 14 | 10th | 2:36.3 | Manabu Sakai | 1.2 | Miss Mamma Mia | [1] |
| May 2 | Turf 3200 m (Good) | Tenno Sho (Spring) | GI | Hanshin | 154.9 (16th) | 17 | 11th | 3:17.4 | Kenichi Ikezoe | 2.7 | World Premiere | [1] |
| Jun 12 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | June Stakes | 3-win | Tokyo | 10.0 (5th) | 11 | 10th | 2:26.7 | Keita Tosaki | 2.1 | Silver Sonic | [1] |
| Jun 27 | Turf 2200 m (Good) | Takarazuka Kinen | GI | Hanshin | 153.9 (10th) | 13 | 11th | 2:12.8 | Hideaki Miyuki | 1.9 | Chrono Genesis | [1] |
| Oct 31 | Turf 3000 m (Good) | Koto Stakes | 3-win | Hanshin | 5.3 (4th) | 11 | 1st | 3:07.2 | Mirai Iwata | –0.1 | (Taisei Monarch) | [18] |
| Dec 26 | Turf 2500 m (Good) | Arima Kinen | GI | Nakayama | 146.8 (15th) | 16 | 15th | 2:35.2 | Mirai Iwata | 3.2 | Efforia | [1] |
| 2022 – six-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Feb 19 | Turf 3400 m (Good) | Diamond Stakes | GIII | Tokyo | 15.4 (7th) | 14 | 13th | 3:32.2 | Akira Sugawara | 2.1 | T O Royal | [1] |
| May 1 | Turf 3200 m (Yielding) | Tenno Sho (Spring) | GI | Hanshin | 123.3 (16th) | 18 | 9th | 3:19.0 | Mirai Iwata | 2.8 | Titleholder | [20] |
| Jun 26 | Turf 2200 m (Good) | Takarazuka Kinen | GI | Hanshin | 210.3 (16th) | 17 | 13th | 2:12.0 | Taisei Danno | 2.3 | Titleholder | [21] |
| Dec 3 | Turf 3600 m (Good) | Stayers Stakes | GII | Nakayama | 50.2 (11th) | 14 | 5th | 3:46.8 | Akira Sugawara | 0.5 | Silver Sonic | [1] |
| 2023 – seven-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Mar 19 | Turf 3000 m (Good) | Hanshin Daishōten | GII | Hanshin | 89.6 (8th) | 14 | 11th | 3:08.7 | Seina Imamura | 2.6 | Justin Palace | [1] |
| Apr 30 | Turf 3200 m (Yielding) | Tenno Sho (Spring) | GI | Kyoto | 243.0 (14th) | 17 | 12th | 3:18.0 | Hideaki Miyuki | 1.9 | Justin Palace | [1] |
| Sep 3 | Turf 2600 m (Good) | Tancho Stakes | Open | Sapporo | 7.4 (5th) | 14 | 10th | 2:44.2 | Katsuma Sameshima | 2.4 | Jan Kazuma | [1] |
| Dec 2 | Turf 3600 m (Good) | Stayers Stakes | GII | Nakayama | 59.5 (12th) | 16 | 8th | 3:46.7 | Akira Sugawara | 1.3 | Iron Barows | [1] |
| 2024 – eight-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| Jan 6 | Turf 3000 m (Good) | Manyo Stakes | Open | Kyoto | 23.5 (7th) | 13 | 3rd | 3:05.6 | Hideaki Miyuki | 0.3 | Meisho Breguet | [1] |
| May 4 | Turf 2400 m (Good) | Metropolitan Stakes | Listed | Tokyo | 24.3 (6th) | 8 | 7th | 2:25.6 | Akira Sugawara | 2.2 | Battle Born | [1] |
Broodmare career
Following her retirement, Melody Lane entered the broodmare herd at Okada Stud in Shinhidaka, Hokkaido.[26] Her first foal, a filly by Benbatl, was born on 4 March 2026.[28] She was reported in foal to Siskin for 2027.[29]
Pedigree
| Sire Orfevre (JPN) 2008 |
Stay Gold (JPN) 1994 |
Sunday Silence (USA) | Halo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wishing Well | |||
| Golden Sash (JPN) | Dictus | ||
| Dyna Sash | |||
| Oriental Art (JPN) 1997 |
Mejiro McQueen (JPN) | Mejiro Titian | |
| Mejiro Aurora | |||
| Electro Art (JPN) | Northern Taste | ||
| Grandma Stevens | |||
| Dam Mowen (GB) 2008 |
Motivator (GB) 2002 |
Montjeu (IRE) | Sadler's Wells |
| Floripedes | |||
| Out West (GB) | Gone West | ||
| Chellingoua | |||
| Top Table (GB) 1989 |
Shirley Heights (GB) | Mill Reef | |
| Hardiemma | |||
| Lora's Guest (USA) | Be My Guest | ||
| Lora |
- Melody Lane is inbred 5 × 5 × 5 to Northern Dancer and 5 × 4 to Northern Taste.[5]
- Her dam Mowen won the 2013 Tancho Stakes.[5]
- Her younger half-brother Titleholder won the 2021 Kikuka Shō, the 2022 Tenno Sho (Spring), and the 2022 Takarazuka Kinen.[5]
- Her female family descends from the mare Lora, and includes Golden Horn and Cracksman.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 "メロディーレーンの競走成績". netkeiba (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "メロディーレーン". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "2歳出走馬JRA最少馬体重記録更新". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 13 October 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "メロディーレーン の競走馬情報". POG-INFO (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "メロディーレーン - 5代血統表". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "出走馬情報：日経新春杯 今週の注目レース JRA". Japan Racing Association (in Japanese). 19 January 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "メロディーレーン JRA最少体重優勝記録更新". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 15 June 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "【小倉12R・海の中道特別】馬体重346kgメロディーレーンがV、最小体重特別勝利を20kg更新". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "【菊花賞】メロディーレーン、340キロ健闘5着". Sanspo ZBAT! Keiba (in Japanese). 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 "開催競馬場・今日の出来事、明日の取消・変更等（9月28日（土曜））". Japan Racing Association (in Japanese). 28 September 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 "【阪神6R】メロディーレーン レコードV!最少体重優勝記録を2キロ更新". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 29 September 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "最少馬体重Vのメロディーレーンが菊花賞に登録". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 2 October 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "【菊花賞】史上最軽量V牝馬メロディーレーン 3分の2抽選突破で森田師は安ど". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 17 October 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "【菊花賞】メロディーレーン抽選突破 10年ぶりとなる牝馬の出走". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 17 October 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 "【菊花賞】超軽量牝馬メロディーレーンが5着 坂井「スタミナある」". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 20 October 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "【有馬記念】ファン投票 最終結果発表(100位まで)". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 12 December 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "【ドバイ国際競走】ゴールドクイーン受諾 メロディーレーンは辞退". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 15 February 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 "【古都S】メロディーレーン 弟に続き阪神3000制しオープン入り決めた". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 1 November 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "【古都S】メロディーレーンが菊花賞馬弟タイトルホルダーと同じ阪神三千でV". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). 31 October 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 "【天皇賞・春】超軽量"アイドル"メロディーレーンは9着、122キロ差の弟タイトルホルダーがV". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 1 May 2022. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 "【宝塚記念】弟タイトルホルダーに2秒余り遅れての13着メロディーレーン 団野「ファン投票でこの舞台に立たせてもらえてよかったです」". Toshpo Keiba (in Japanese). 26 June 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "【注目馬動向】メロディーレーンが阪神大賞典の特別登録を見送り 天皇賞・春を目標に". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 11 March 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "天皇賞春を除外のメロディーレーンは5・4メトロポリタンSへ 鞍上は菅原明【次走報】". Toshpo Keiba (in Japanese). 25 April 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ ""ちいかわ"メロディーレーンは9歳も現役!年明けの万葉Sを目標に…レックス発表". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 9 November 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "小柄な馬体で活躍した8歳牝馬メロディーレーンが電撃引退…繁殖入り、右前深屈腱付近の痛みが再発". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 18 December 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- 1 2 "電撃引退のメロディーレーンに森田師が惜別メッセージ「未勝利を勝った時に泣いた。一緒にいられて楽しかった。かわいい子を産んでくれたら」". Daily Sports (in Japanese). 19 December 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "メロディーレーン 競走成績". JBIS Search (in Japanese). Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "メロディーレーンの初子が誕生! 父ベンバトルの牝馬 額には母似の流星がくっきり". Sanspo (in Japanese). 5 March 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "メロディーレーンがシスキンの子を受胎! 岡田牧雄氏「今年も1回で(種が)とまりました。繁殖として相当優秀だと思います」". Sanspo (in Japanese). 17 April 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.