Podcast appearances and mentions of melody belle

The legendary jockey's sudden retirement announcement in December caught the NZ racing industry by surprise.  Opie says he'd been contemplating retirement for six months but it took a simple experience on Xmas Day to convince him the time was right. The champion jockey was out jogging on Xmas morning, wearing his mandatory heavy sweat gear when he was suddenly conscious of passers by in high spirits, out enjoying life on such a special day. Opie was unplaced on 3 rides at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Driving home to Matamata after the races he made the massive decision to call time on his stellar 30 year career. He says the withdrawal symptoms have been manageable so far. Opie says he was a little hesitant as he sat down to type out his retirement announcement for release on social media. The jockey says weight issues have plagued him for many years. He explains just how tough it's been over time. He reminds us that he walked away from racing more than twenty years ago when wasting got the better of him. He spent eighteen months out of the industry during which time he gave the rugby code some serious attention. Kiwis and Australians alike have been curious about the champion jockey's unusual christian name. He puts forward a simple explanation. Opie talks about an apprenticeship to his godfather Steve Autridge, at the time head trainer for the Te Akau machine. He says Autridge has been an important influence in his life. He talks about the TeAkau training operation at Matamata, and the  breathtaking environment of Te Akau Stud in the Waikato, where it all begins for the David Ellis homebreds. Opie was happy to wander down memory lane. He's never forgotten his very first day as a professional jockey. His first winning ride in 1995 left an indelible memory.   The brilliant jockey announced his arrival in a big way. He was only 17 when he won his first Gr 1, the 1998 Auckland Cup on Jezabeel. Opie wasn't retained on Jezabeel in the Melbourne Cup of the same year but was lucky enough to get on a wonderful NZ staying filly during the same carnival. He won the historic Victoria Oaks on Grand Archway. Shortly before that Melbourne carnival he made a quick trip to NSW as a favour to a young Kiwi friend who was just getting started as a trainer in Sydney. He happened to ride the trainer's first Australian winner in an obscure maiden at Wyong. Opie looks back on some stunning NZ career statistics. He makes no secret of the fact that the brilliant sprinting mare Imperatriz was his all time favourite. He talks about the brilliant mare's best performances. Second only to Imperatriz on Bosson's list of favourites is the dynamic Melody Belle. He looks back on 6 Gr 1 wins on the wonderful mare. He was delighted to partner Melody Belle in her only Australian Gr 1 victory. He speaks with great admiration of another top tier Te Akau mare, the talented Avantage. He rode her in eight of sixteen wins which included five Gr 1's.  Opie looks back on his association with several other exciting horses he got to ride in the famous tangerine and royal blue Te Akau colours. He makes special mention of the lightly raced Te Akau Shark. He says we never saw the best of this exciting Rip Van Winkle gelding. The 99 time Gr 1 winning rider devotes extra time to his memories of Mongolian Khan, the top class stayer who gave him victory in two of Australia's most famous races.  Opie came back to ride him in three Sydney races the following autumn, but says he wasn't the same horse. The jockey pays a warm tribute to Mongolian Khan's trainer Murray Baker. The newly inducted retiree speaks of his three children. He and first wife Samantha Spratt are the parents of 19 year old Cody who shares his father's love of hunting and fishing.  Opie talks of the two younger children he shares with second wife Emily- Max who's six,  and daughter Honour who's nearing three years of age. The Auckland Racing Club acknowledged Opie's impact on NZ racing when they released a special audio presentation a few years ago. Whenever the jockey won a race at the Karaka Millions meeting the catchy chant of “There's Only One Opie Bosson” resonated through the public address system, generating great crowd involvement. He talks of his reaction to a rare honour.  Great to catch up with a jockey who was appointed an Officer Of The NZ Order OF Merit in 2023 for his services to racing.

In this edition of the Winning Edge podcast, hear from New Zealand's leading trainer Jamie Richards, who heads up the hugely successful Te Akau Racing operation which is famous for producing stars including Probabeel, Te Akau Shark, Melody Belle, Xtravagant, Gingernuts and Avantage. Jamie provides an update on Bright Blue Sky - the talented filly most likely to take down short-priced Magic Millions 2yo Classic favourite Coolangatta. With Group One racing at Ellerslie tomorrow, Jamie also gives the punters a leg-up to his most favoured runners. In recent weeks, Jamie has also announced he will take up a training license in the revered racing jurisdiction of Hong Kong. Tune in to hear all about the move and much more.

In the latest edition of Racing Tales Of The Turf Louis catches up with Marie Leicester to hear about a lifetime in racing. Born into a keen racing family, Marie has upheld and developed the breeding the lines her parents started more than half a century a go, ultimately leading to the breeding of Melody Belle in recent years. While Melody Belle might be the family's most accomplished representative, it was no surprise the line produced such a champion with the detail and effort poured into it by Marie and her family. As to what made Melody Belle different and that much more special, "her will to win," Marie states in no uncertain terms. With 14 Group One wins during a historic career, who could argue with that.

Sam Fairgray, after Melody Belle was knocked down to YulongI for $2.6 million at the Magic Million Sales

Sam Fairgray from Yulong Investments joins Andrew Bensley live from the Magic Millions sales complex to chat about the team's purchase of star mare Melody Belle at the National Broodmare Sale today.

Jamie Richards has made the trek over to Australia for champion mare Melody Belle’s last ever run in tomorrow’s Group 1 Doomben Cup

Top NZ Trainer Jamie Richards joins Andrew Bensley to provide an update on his star mare Melody Belle ahead of her last ever race start in the Doomben Cup on Saturday.

Top NZ Trainer Jamie Richards joins Andrew Bensley to provide an update on his star mare Melody Belle ahead of her last ever race start in the Doomben Cup on Saturday.

Managing Director of Magic Millions Barry Bowditch joins Andrew Bensley to chat about the upcoming Broodmare Sale which will feature star mares Melody Belle and Arcadia Queen.

NZ owner and part of Fortuna Racing, John Galvin joins Andrew Bensley to chat about his star mare Melody Belle who lines up in the Hollindale Stakes today at the Gold Coast. John chats about this being her second last race she is retired to be a broodmare.

NZ owner and part of Fortuna Racing, John Galvin joins Andrew Bensley to chat about his star mare Melody Belle who lines up in the Hollindale Stakes today at the Gold Coast. John chats about this being her second last race she is retired to be a broodmare.

New Zealand trainer Jamie Richards discusses star mare Melody Belle in the Hollindale Stks tomorrow.

Top NZ Trainer Jamie Richards joins Andrew Bensley to provide an update on his super mare Melody Belle as she prepares for her final couple of race track appearances in QLD before being sold as a broodmare.

Top NZ Trainer Jamie Richards joins Andrew Bensley to provide an update on his super mare Melody Belle as she prepares for her final couple of race track appearances in QLD before being sold as a broodmare.

Top New Zealand Trainer Jamie Richards joins Andrew Bensley to chat about his star mare Melody Belle ahead of her final few runs in Brisbane before being sold as a broodmare.

Jamie Richards Melody Belle trialed in Sydney this morning ahead of her farewell campaign in Queensland

Owner John Galvin joins Andrew Bensley to chat about his star mare and a big favourite of Australia and New Zealand Racing, Melody Belle, who is set for only a couple more races before she heads to the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale.

Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards provides an update on Melody Belle ahead of her tilt at today's G1 Tancred Stakes

Top NZ Trainer Jamie Richards joins Andrew Bensley to provide an update on a few stable stars for Te Akau Racing, including Melody Belle in her Australian swan song which kicks of in Saturday's Tancred Stakes.

Te Akau Racing's Jamie Richards joins Andrew Bensley to chat about the Te Akau team today in NZ, PLUS gives us an update on star mare Melody Belle ahead of her trip to Sydney for next week's Tancred Stakes.

Andrew Bensley catches up with Fortuna Syndicate's John Galvin after Melody Belle brought up her record breaking 14th Group One win.

Butch Castles previews the weekend ahead in New Zealand racing in a weekend where Melody Belle will shoot for the Group 1 record set by Sunline. Guests include Andrew Forsman and Jamie Richards.

New Zealand Trainer Jamie Richards joins Andrew Bensley ahead of a massive weekend for his stable with runners in the features in New Zealand including Melody Belle, plus a host of runners across both Melbourne and Sydney.

New Zealand Trainer Jamie Richards joins Andrew Bensley following the super mare Melody Belle scoring another group 1 win over the weekend.

Mark Claydon reviews a huge day of racing where Melody Belle won her 13th Group One.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Bensley speaks with Fortuna Syndications' John Galvin about Melody Belle's win in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

The Leg Up team look back on a dominant performance from Te Akau Racing on Karaka Million night, before looking forward to Wellington Cup Day and the much anticipated return of Melody Belle.

Mick and Louis are back with No Last Race to debrief a massive Melbourne Cup and a huge week of racing still to come. Melody Belle gets her chance for redemption in the Mackinnon Stakes and back home we have a juicy 2000 Guineas to sink our teeth into. This and heaps more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Bensley talks to Jamie Richards, trainer of Melody Belle who won her 12th Group One on Saturday when taking out the Livamol Classic at Hastings.

Te Akau Racing have another big weekend of racing ahead and Andrew Bensley talks to trainer Jamie Richards about the stable's chances including their Gr.1 Livamol Classic contenders Melody Belle and Avantage.

Andrew Bensley talks to Fortuna Racing's John Galvin about Melody Belle's win in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m).

Andrew Bensley talks to trainer Jamie Richards about the win of Melody Belle in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m).

John Galvin, manager of Fortuna Syndications, talks to Andrew Bensley about flag bearer Melody Belle who returns to racing in New Zealand in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate at Hastings.

Andrew Bensley talks to trainer Jamie Richards about the chances of Probabeel and Melody Belle at Randwick on Saturday.

Jockey has some promising rides today highlighted by MELODY BELLE in the Missile Stakes

Andrew Bensley chats with New Zealand's champion trainer Jamie Richards, touching on his first solo trainers' premiership as well as star gallopers Melody Belle and Probabeel who trialled this morning, in addition to other stable stars.

Thad, Steve and BP take a look at this week's racing from Trentham, including the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks before turning their attention to Melody Belle in the All-Star Mile.

Thad and Stephen are joined by Brendan Popplewell to break down Saturday's racing from Matamata and Otaki and have a look at the Futurity Stakes featuring New Zealand's own Melody Belle.

The boys look back on the first three days of Cup week, chat to David Ellis, and provide tips for Stakes day.

Live from The Big E, episode 1.0 of New Zealand's leading racing podcast is here and first up we're taking a good look at The US Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa as well as Spring racing ahead in general.This week the lads are lucky enough to be joined by Chris Russell, one of Te Akau Shark's owners to take a look at the promising spring on the horizon for this star starting with the Foxbridge Plate where he goes head to head with Melody Belle.Hopefully hosts Louis Herman-Watt and Luke Kemeys can dominate the podcast scene this spring like Chris and the Shark's team hope they can the group 1 fields. Go the lads!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.