MELODY AGAIN, trained at Scone by Scott Singleton, produced one of the standout performances of the 2024 autumn racing season. With a remarkable double that showcased her class and the strategy behind her preparation.
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From Highway Winner to Queen of the West
Bred and owned by Dr. Max and Evelyn Kowalczuk, Melody Again had already made her mark as a two-time TAB Highway winner leading into the $50,000 Arrowfield Queen of the West. She had also finished a solid third in the country-restricted Barn Dance behind Gallant Star in the spring.
Her trainer, Scott Singleton, is fast becoming renowned for his ability with fillies and mares. Furthermore, he won the inaugural Queen of the West in 2023 with Dollar Magic, a filly that would go on to string together nine consecutive metropolitan placings before a Saturday benchmark win during the 2024 Scone Cup Carnival.
For Melody Again’s Queen of the West run, she was allocated a hefty 64kg under Benchmark 82 conditions. Singleton turned to claiming apprentice Leeshelle Small, who executed a perfectly timed ride. From a rearward position and encouraged to improve from the 800m, Melody Again produced a blistering turn of foot to set a new 1200m track record, breaking a long-standing mark previously held by the eight-time winner Kenny Succeed.
Her performance earned the Kowalczuks a nomination to Arrowfield’s three-time Group 1 and dual Derby-winning stallion Hitotsu.
Dark Jewel Glory on Home Turf
Just a month later, Melody Again was back at Scone to contest the Group 3 Arrowfield Dark Jewel Classic during the prestigious Scone Cup Carnival. Piloted by Christian Reith, she again settled back and launched late with a rail-hugging ride to score a thrilling win against a quality field of fillies and mares.
These back-to-back efforts firmly stamped Melody Again as one of the most exciting country-trained mares in recent memory.
Queen of the West: A Rising Star in Regional Racing
In just three years, the Arrowfield Queen of the West, run alongside the Mercedes-Benz Dubbo Ladies Day, has become a key feature on the Dubbo Turf Club calendar.
According to General Manager Sam Fitzgerald, the concept struck a chord with racegoers from day one.
It’s been rewarding to see year-on-year growth. The Queen of the West has quickly become one of our most important feature races.”
Fitzgerald credits close collaboration with Racing NSW to find the ideal date on the calendar—one that appeals to trainers with quality fillies and mares while also engaging the local community.
Strategic Evolution
Originally run under Benchmark 74 conditions, the race has since moved to Benchmark 82 and may continue to evolve. Fitzgerald notes that potential changes to a quality handicap or set weights and penalties format could attract even stronger fields.
Removing handicapping encumbrances helps get the best horses to Dubbo.”
With $50,000 in prize money, plus the added value of a stallion nomination, the total prize value often exceeds $70,000. Enhancing this purse and building a strong support program remain key strategic goals.
Arrowfield’s Backing: A Partnership of Integrity
One of the pillars of the Queen of the West’s growth has been the partnership with Arrowfield Stud. It is through this relationship, the provision of stallion nominations to winning connections since the race’s inception.
Arrowfield brings integrity and prestige to the event. Their support gives trainers and owners a real reason to target Dubbo.”
In the first year, the winning nomination went to Castelvecchio, who has since sired Spring Champion Stakes winner El Castello and Derby winner Aeliana. In years two and three, nominations to Hitotsu were offered, adding further weight to the race’s commercial appeal.
We’re deeply grateful to Arrowfield. Their involvement gives us a legitimate business case to attract quality horses and stables to our region.”
The Road Ahead
With back-to-back champions like Dollar Magic and Melody Again, and the support of major breeding operations like Arrowfield, the Queen of the West is quickly cementing itself as a vital stepping stone for country-trained fillies and mares looking to make metropolitan impact.
Dubbo Turf Club is aiming high—and with performances like Melody Again’s, the sky is the limit.
Dubbo Turf Club
The Dubbo Turf Club hosts 18 race meetings per year. Including the prestigious Dubbo Gold Cup, Queen of the West, Silver Goblet, Derby Day/Golden Eagle Day, and Melbourne Cup/Big Dance Day meetings.
With over 200 horses trained on-course, the Dubbo Turf Club also attracts runners from across regional NSW and prominent Metropolitan and Provincial stables. Resulting in the Club having the highest average field size of any regional NSW racecourse in the past two years.
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